Charlie Lindgren and Declan Chisholm Lead Capitals' Early Skates as Training Camp Approaches
Posted September 6, 2025
The Capitals continue to welcome players back to DC with less than two weeks to go before the start of training camp. Goaltender Charlie Lindgren and offseason acquisition Declan Chisholm were both on the ice Saturday morning, joining a group of teammates for an informal skate at MedStar Capitals Iceplex.
Other participants at the skate included Martin Fehervary, Ryan Leonard, Andrew Cristall, Aliaksei and Ilya Protas, Ludwig Persson, Eriks Mateiko, Mitch Gibson, and Ryan Chesley. Capitals skills coach Kenny McCudden led the on-ice skills session.
Alex Ovechkin is expected to join his teammates soon as a report from Match TV said he planned to fly back to DC on Friday.
Other participants at the skate included Martin Fehervary, Ryan Leonard, Andrew Cristall, Aliaksei and Ilya Protas, Ludwig Persson, Eriks Mateiko, Mitch Gibson, and Ryan Chesley. Capitals skills coach Kenny McCudden led the on-ice skills session.
Alex Ovechkin is expected to join his teammates soon as a report from Match TV said he planned to fly back to DC on Friday.
After signing a three-year extension in March, Lindgren is set to kick off his new deal this fall alongside goaltending partner Logan Thompson. The pair spent much of the 2024-25 season alternating starts before Thompson emerged as the team’s primary starter, playing in all 10 of Washington’s playoff games this spring.
Lindgren posted a record of 20-14-3 in 2024-25, earning a .896 save percentage and a 2.73 goals-against average. Though he admitted some frustration with his statistics during the season — especially after a breakout year in 2023-24, he told reporters at the team’s breakdown day in May that he was ultimately happy with his performance.
“I think took another step forward this year,” he said then. “Three years in Washington, it’s been an absolute treat. Couldn’t be more thrilled that I’ll be back here in September to continue on this journey with a lot of the same guys that were on the team this year.”
The Capitals traded for Chisholm at the 2025 NHL Draft amid a largely quiet offseason, acquiring the 25-year-old defenseman and a sixth-round pick from the Minnesota Wild for Hershey Bears defenseman Chase Priskie and a fourth-round pick. Chisholm played 66 games for Minnesota last season, recording 12 points (2g, 10a), and saw his team earn 51.1 percent of shot attempts and 53.9 percent of expected goals while on the ice at five-on-five.
With a large salary cap increase raising the price of unrestricted free agents, general manager Chris Patrick saw the trade as an opportunity to add depth without breaking the bank.
“(He’s) a guy who we can have a little control over the contract here, because he’s an RFA,” Patrick said in June. “We wanted to address our defensive depth this offseason, and if you go into the free agent market, you don’t have control over the costs. We thought this was a good chance to try to do that. We like where he’s trending as a player. Again, another guy that’s the right age, and I think he’s got a real good opportunity here to continue to build on what he was doing in Minnesota.”
Washington’s official preseason activities will kick off later this week with the start of Rookie Camp on Friday at McMullen Hockey Arena in Annapolis, Md. Those participants will join the rest of the team back at MedStar Capitals Iceplex for Training Camp on September 18.
BREAKING NEWS: Deck Stacks Against Spencer Rattler Ahead of Season Debut
Kellen Moore ruled Trevor Penning out for the New Orleans Saints season opener against the Arizona Cardinals. This has to feel all too familiar for Spencer Rattler. One piece of Rattler's offensive line is already out of the starting lineup in his first start of the season. The loss isn't crippling, but it does feel like the second year player can't catch a break.
The constant in the six games Rattler started as a rookie, and the one constant throughout that time was injuries tore apart his supporting cast. He had multiple injuries in front of him on the offensive line, the top receivers out and an injured Alvin Kamara to finish the year. It won't be to that degree on Sunday, but it's hard to not think back to 2024 when hearing Penning will miss the upcoming game.
Ironically, Penning was one of the players who didn't miss any time. He suffered a turf toe injury during the first preseason game. It's been nearly a month since he suffered the injury, so you'd think Penning should be close to returning. He didn't practice this week, but we'll monitor if he sees any improvement next week.
Saints always had a contingency plan for Trevor Penning getting injured
You don’t want to see players get hurt, but teams are more equipped to deal with injuries at certain positions. Guard is one of those positions for New Orleans due to signing Dillon Radunz in the offseason.
Radunz always felt like a contingency plan around Penning’s transition to guard not working out. Though it was optimism around Penning’s skillset being better suited for the interior, Radunz is proven at guard. Many thought there was a chance he would be the starter before the Saints confirmed they were trying Penning at guard.
You hate to see Rattler start another game without his entire offensive line, but having a true starting caliber player as a replacement makes it easier to manage. When he stepped in at guard, Radunz's play inspired confidence.
