The Washington Capitals are all pretty much back from summer vacation, as informal skates filled up on Monday with Ethan Bear and more joining the mix.
Bear, along with Tom Wilson, Trevor van Riemsdyk and more, were back on the ice in D.C. and skating at MedStar Capitals Iceplex.
It marked Bear's first time skating with the team since clearing the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, which he first entered in March and officially cleared in April, per general manager Brian MacLellan.
Bear was in high spirits as he took the ice with his teammates and showcased his skating and puck-moving ability. He was moving well on the ice and taking good care of the puck, too.
Wilson was also strong in his return to D.C., moving the puck well and showcasing his shot and strength he worked on during the offseason. He was also strong during the team's skate test to close out the session, leading his respective group in reps.
Also in attendance were Alex Ovechkin, who returned to the United States last week, along with Jakob Chychrun, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Dylan Strome, Martin Fehervary, Connor McMichael, Sonny Milano, Nic Dowd, Taylor Raddysh, Brandon Duhaime, Aliaksei Protas, Matt Roy, Alex Alexeyev, Ivan Miroshnichenko and Logan Thompson. Andrew Mangiapane is in Washington and has joined the team, but was not on the ice for informal skates on Monday.
The scrimmage between both sides also offered a first glance at Dubois and Ovechkin together on ta line, as the two displayed good chemistry and worked well together. Ovechkin was active offensively, getting his shot off when he could, making smart passes and even taking face-offs.
Training camp officially opens on Sept. 19.
