Washington Capitals

Hockey sticks belonging to Washington Capitals defenseman Zdeno Chara were accidentally sent to a New Jersey man's home. 

In a story covered by ESPN's Greg Wyshynski, Tarik El-Bashir of The Athletic and others, Ariel Ben-Abraham was surprised to find a set of 17-20 hockey sticks measuring 67" each.

Ben-Abraham, who owns the Create Supply clothing company, put two and two together by reading the address label (designated for the Washington Capitals' practice facility) and a "Chara 33" stamp on the stick shafts and correctly figured that they were meant for the 43-year-old defenseman. 

The 20-year-old then tweeted at the Capitals and Chara:

It's unclear why the shipment was sent to Ben-Abraham. The sticks originated from True Hockey, who sent them via FedEx.

"We have no idea what happened," Corey Gregory, True’s marketing manager for North America, told El-Bashir.

"They are clearly stated for the Washington Capitals in Arlington, Va., to their practice facility and they ended up in New Jersey."

All will be well that ends well, though, as the current plan is for someone to pick up the sticks from Ben-Abraham before delivering them to New York City, where the Caps are playing the New York Rangers on Thursday.

Gregory also noted, per Wyshynski, that the company is considering different ways to thank El-Abraham for his help in getting the sticks into the right hands.

Nastya Shubskaya, wife of Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, fired back at the NHL on Thursday after the league fined the team $100,000 for violation of COVID-19 protocols Wednesday. The Caps released a statement expressing disappointment in their players' "choice to interact in their hotel room and outside of team approved areas." 

Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Dmitry Orlov and Ilya Samsonov were added to the COVID-19 protocols-related absence list Wednesday. 

That led Shubskaya to criticize the league for its guidelines Thursday. 

She wrote on Instagram:

"Of course, only Russian players of Washington Capitals were together in the same hotel room. Of course, all of the other NHL players, when playing away, separating themselves from their teammates. Of course, you can't catch the virus when you and your teammates sit together on the bench, hug each other when they score a goal, or when they are all together in the lounge or locker room. Players can't get infected when they are at the restaurants, supermarkets, malls, etc. Virus only works in a hotel room."

The fine was the first punishment the NHL handed down for COVID-19 protocol violations, though multiple games have already been postponed and rescheduled because of outbreaks among other franchises. 

Caps head coach Peter Laviolette said the four players were likely to miss at least four games. 

"We knew the rules," Laviolette said. "We aren't sitting here saying we were unaware."

Shubskaya said Ovechkin and Orlov both have COVID-19 antibodies. Still, that does not preclude them from following the league's protocols.

In a statement released Wednesday, the Washington captain took responsibility for his actions.

"I regret my choice to spend time together with my teammates in our hotel room and away from the locker room areas," Ovechkin said. "I will learn from this experience." 

Alex Ovechkin and three other Washington Capitals players may miss the next four games after violating COVID-19 protocols. 

According to Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press, Ovechkin, forward Evgeny Kuznetsov, defenseman Dmitry Orlov and goalie Ilya Samsonov are all in quarantine, and Caps head coach Peter Laviolette said he believes they will miss the next four contests.

Laviolette added that there was a positive test among Capitals players, which resulted in the NHL doing contact tracing, per Whyno.

The NHL fined the Capitals $100,000 this week for violating health and safety protocols. The league noted that the fine was specifically due to "social interactions among team members who were in close contact and who were not wearing face coverings."

According to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski, the NHL said the players violated protocol by "grouping together in a hotel room."

Per Whyno, Laviolette acknowledged that the team knew the rules and should have followed them: "We totally understand why the rules are in place and there's no arguing with that. We want to be compliant. We made a mistake and we need to do a better job."

The Capitals, who are tied for first in the East Division at 2-0-2, are scheduled to play four times in seven days starting Friday.

Washington will host the Buffalo Sabres on Friday and Sunday before hosting the New York Islanders next Tuesday and Thursday.

If the aforementioned players miss all four of those games, the Capitals will be without some of their most important pieces.

Ovechkin is the team captain and one of the most prolific scorers in NHL history. He is eighth all-time with 707 career goals and has registered one goal and four assists through four games this season.

Kuznetsov is Washington's second-line center and a key part of the power play. He has three points through four games this season, has reached the 70-point mark three times in his career and registered 52 points in 63 games last season.

Orlov isn't much of an offensive contributor, but he is arguably the Capitals' best defensive defenseman and has logged an average of more than 20 minutes per game in each of the past three seasons. So far this season, he is playing 20:49 per contest.

Samsonov is just 23 years of age, but he is Washington's No. 1 goalie and owns a 1-0-1 record this season with a 3.36 goals-against average and .868 save percentage.

Without Samsonov in the lineup, Vitek Vanecek will likely serve as Washington's primary starter in the crease with Pheonix Copley and Craig Anderson also potentially figuring in.

The Washington Capitals placed four players on the NHL's COVID protocol-related absence list on Wednesday, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. 

Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Dmitry Orlov and Ilya Samsonov received the designation on the same day that the league fined the Capitals $100,000 for a violation of COVID-19 safety protocols.

The Capitals are 2-0-2 this season. 

According to the league's statement, the Capitals were fined after players were involved in "social interactions among team members who were in close contact and who were not wearing face coverings." 

"I regret my choice to spend time together with my teammates in our hotel room and away from the locker room areas," Ovechkin said in a statement. "I will learn from this experience."

Just one week into the season, the NHL has had to deal with its first postponements. The Carolina Hurricanes had their Tuesday game against the Nashville Predators postponed, then five Hurricanes were added to the league's COVID list on Wednesday.

As a result, the team had its games postponed through Saturday. That move erases a home series against the Florida Panthers scheduled for Thursday and Sunday. The Hurricanes' facilities are closed until furhter notice, the league said.

Washington is still scheduled to play Buffalo on Friday. 

The Washington Capitals have been fined $100,000 for violating the NHL's COVID-19 protocols, the league announced on Wednesday.

A statement provided by the NHL explains the punishment is the result of team members socializing in close contact with each other while not wearing face coverings. 

It's the first time the league has fined a franchise for violating health and safety protocols. The Capitals added Evgeny Kuznetsov, Dmitry Orlov, Alexander Ovechkin and Ilya Samsonov to the COVID-Related Absence List on Wednesday. 

The NHL temporarily realigned its divisions and changed the structure of its schedule to better protect against the virus this season as it looks to play through the pandemic outside of a bubble environment. That's led to teams playing baseball-style schedules with clubs remaining in cities for multiple days to play a series of games. 

As a first punished offense, the NHL's fine is noteworthy. 

The NFL fined the Las Vegas Raiders $500,000, revoked a draft pick and hit coach Jon Gruden with a $150,000 penalty after multiple violations of the league's health and safety protocols. Initially Gruden was fined $100,000 and the team was forced to pay $250,000 for similar violations. 

The NHL appears to be taking a similar approach with financial punishments clubs are certain to feel in a year where revenues are expected to decrease without spectators in attendance. 

Washington Capitals goalie Henrik Lundqvist announced Friday that he was released from the hospital Thursday after undergoing heart surgery.

Lundqvist, 38, signed a one-year contract with the Caps during the offseason after spending the first 15 years of his NHL career as a member of the New York Rangers.

The Swedish star was ruled out for the entire 2020-21 NHL season, however, after being diagnosed with a heart condition that required surgery. Lundqvist announced last week that he underwent a five-hour surgery that went "really well."

Lundqvist is one of the greatest goaltenders of his era, as he owns a 459-310-96 record with a 2.43 goals-against average, .918 save percentage and 64 shutouts in 887 career regular-season games.

King Henrik ranks eighth all-time in goalie games played, sixth in wins, 23rd in GAA and 12th in save percentage in NHL history.

Given his dominance for a long stretch of time, Lundqvist has no shortage of accolades to his credit, including five All-Star nods, winning the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best goalie in 2012 and being named Rangers team MVP nine times.

Lundqvist also led the Blueshirts to the Stanley Cup Final in 2014, although they fell short against the Los Angeles Kings.

With young goalies Igor Shesterkin and Alexandar Georgiev emerging in New York, the Rangers made the difficult decision to part ways with Lundqvist during the offseason.

While retirement was a possibility, Lundqvist decided to sign with the Caps in order to be a backup and mentor to young goalie Ilya Samsonov.

Instead, Lundqvist was ruled out for the season, leaving Vitek Vanecek to serve as Samsonov's backup despite having no games of NHL experience to his credit.

It is unclear if Lundqvist will attempt to resume his NHL career next season, but updates on his health and progress continue to be positive after a scary diagnosis.

Washington Capitals goalie Henrik Lundqvist provided an update Friday after undergoing open-heart surgery.

Lundqvist tweeted that the five-hour procedure was successful, and he thanked those responsible for helping it go so smoothly:

It was announced last month that Lundqvist would miss the entire 2020-21 season because of a heart condition after signing a one-year deal with the Caps in free agency.

The 38-year-old Lundqvist spent the first 15 years of his career with the New York Rangers and established himself as one of the best goaltenders of his era during that time.

Dubbed King Henrik, the Swedish star was named to the All-Star Game five times, won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best goalie in 2012, was named team MVP nine times and led the Blueshirts all the way to the Stanley Cup Final in 2014.

He also led Sweden to a gold medal victory over Finland at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.

In 887 career NHL regular-season games, Lundqvist has posted a record of 459-310-96 with a 2.43 goals-against average, .918 save percentage and 64 shutouts.

Among qualifying players, Lundqvist is eighth all-time in goalie games played, sixth in wins, 23rd in GAA and 12th in save percentage.

Lundqvist's numbers have been down in recent years, however, especially last season when he had a career-worst 3.16 GAA and .905 save percentage.

Because of his decline and the emergence of both Igor Shesterkin and Alexandar Georgiev in goal, the Rangers decided to move on from Lundqvist during the offseason.

The Capitals, who lost Braden Holtby to the Vancouver Canucks in free agency, then signed King Henrik to a one-year deal in hopes that he could be a part-time starter and mentor for young goaltender Ilya Samsonov.

With Lundqvist out, Samsonov will carry the load for Washington during the 2020-21 season, while Craig Anderson, Pheonix Copley and Zach Fucale will battle it out to be the backup.

Washington Capitals goalie Henrik Lundqvist will have open-heart surgery after previously announcing he would miss the 2020-21 season. 

Lundqvist wrote on Twitter he will be having an aortic root and ascending aortic replacement procedure:

The Capitals signed Lundqvist to a one-year contract in October. He was expected to be the primary backup goalie behind Ilya Samsonov. 

On Dec. 17, Lundqvist posted a statement on Twitter that he would be unable to play in the upcoming season after receiving test results and consulting with doctors about a heart issue:

Lundqvist became a free agent this offseason after the New York Rangers bought out the final year of his contract.

The 38-year-old spent the past 15 seasons with the Rangers, making the All-Star team five times and winning the 2011-12 Vezina Trophy. He's the franchise's all-time leader in wins (459), shutouts (64) and games played by a goalie (887). 

Washington Capitals goalie Henrik Lundqvist announced Thursday he won't play during the 2021 NHL season because of a recently diagnosed heart condition.

Lundqvist, who signed a one-year contract with the Caps in the offseason after 15 years with the New York Rangers, released a statement on Twitter:

The Capitals also provided a video from the 38-year-old netminder:

"The Washington Capitals are supportive of Henrik's decision to step away from hockey at this time due to his heart condition," the team said in a statement. "Our players' health is of the utmost importance, and we stand behind Henrik's decision. We want to wish him and his family all the best moving forward."

Lundqvist was one of the league's best goaltenders throughout his tenure with the Rangers.

Selected in the seventh round of the 2000 NHL draft, he went on to earn five All-Star selections and won the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goalie during the 2011-12 season. He was also nominated for the Hart Memorial Trophy, the NHL's MVP Award, that year.

He also enjoyed success with Sweden at the international level, highlighted by helping lead the Three Crowns to a gold medal in the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Lundqvist posted a 2.43 goals against average and .918 save percentage in 887 games for the Rangers.

The future Hall of Famer expressed excitement about his new opportunity with the Capitals after signing as a free agent in early October.

"For a few weeks now, I've been doing my homework on all different scenarios and options for me, and I have to say, the Capitals, they checked every box," Lundqvist told reporters. "When it comes to a team that understands winning, a great coaching staff and an opportunity to play some games were the main factors for me."

Lundqvist was expected to split starts with Ilya Samsonov, the Caps' 23-year-old goalie of the future, following the departure of longtime Washington netminder Braden Holtby.

Samsonov may now be tasked with the full-time No. 1 gig. Pheonix Copley and Vitek Vanecek are the top contenders to fill the backup role if the front office doesn't sign another veteran.

The Vancouver Canucks announced Friday they've signed former Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby to a two-year, $8.6 million contract.

"We are pleased to add Braden, an experienced and established goaltender, to our roster," Canucks general manager Jim Benning said. "Braden is a Stanley Cup champion, brings leadership and has demonstrated the ability to rise to the occasion in big games. He will be an important part of our team."

Vancouver is betting on a rebound from Holtby, whose performance has dropped off over the past three seasons after previously being one of the NHL's top netminders.

The 31-year-old Canadian has posted a mediocre 2.96 goals against average and .906 save percentage with three shutouts since the start of the 2017-18 campaign. He'd compiled a 2.31 GAA and .922 save percentage across his first seven years in the NHL.

His best statistical season came in 2016-17, right before the drop off, when he amassed a 2.07 GAA and .925 save percentage with nine shutouts.

Holtby is a five-time All-Star who won the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goalie for the 2015-16 season and earned the William M. Jennings Trophy for the fewest goals allowed during the 2016-17 campaign.

"My focus right now is to win a championship and moving forward, is to find the next best place to win a championship with," Holtby told reporters in July during the Caps' playoff run. "Hopefully, it's here. Hopefully, everything works out, but you never know."

Now he'll take over as the Canucks' No. 1 netminder, and he should receive a lion's share of the starts with Thatcher Demko filling the backup role.

Meanwhile, the Capitals signed longtime New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist to fill the void between the pipes heading into next season.