Lynden Lakovic believes he took big steps after summer training with NHL veterans
The Washington Capitals’ latest first-round draft selection, Lynden Lakovic, jumped on the ice for the first day of 2025 Rookie Camp on Friday. The big forward is attending his first fall NHL camp after being made the 27th overall pick in last June’s draft.
The Capitals inked the 18-year-old to his three-year, entry-level contract at development camp in July, and he’ll be involved at the club’s training camp next week. Lakovic, a 6-foot-4-inch, 200-pound winger, is likely headed back to the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors for the 2025-26 season, but believes he has taken big steps in his game over the summer.
“Yeah, it’s definitely a step for sure, a step up, but I know I’m ready for it,” Lakovic said Friday. “You just got to make a good first impression and be consistent throughout the week, and you never know what can happen. So, I’m real happy with the work I’ve put in, and I guess it’s just time to show that now.”
Lakovic says he particularly focused on aspects of his game that will be important for his transition to pro hockey in the coming years.
“I think a lot of board work, and I put on some pounds,” he said. “Kind of just rounding out my defensive side of the game. And I think those are all traits you need to have at the next level. And I feel like those have all taken big steps this year.”
Ahead of his first experience at an NHL camp, Lakovic spent the offseason training with a few names that already know the league inside and out. The West Kelowna native returned to his hometown for the summer, a hockey hotbed that many NHL players also return to after their seasons.
“I trained with a lot of veteran NHL players,” Lakovic said. “The Schenn brothers, to name a few, and Shea Theodore, to name another one. Just kind of learning from them, what it takes to make it, and really pushing yourself day to day. They’re there helping you out. It really is an advantage, I’d say, and I think it’s going to help me this camp for sure.
“I think it definitely makes me more comfortable, and at the end of the day, it’s my first NHL camp, so you don’t really know what to expect. All you know is it’s going to be hard, and it’s going to be competitive, right? But skating with NHL pros definitely helps and makes me more comfortable for sure.”
Before the start of this year’s rookie camp, Lakovic had already begun his WHL preseason with the Warriors. He played in one exhibition matchup for Moose Jaw, a 2-1 overtime victory over the Swift Current Broncos, where Lakovic scored the game’s opening goal and recorded the primary assist on the game-winning goal.
During the 2024-25 campaign, Lakovic recorded a team-leading 58 points (27g, 31a) in 47 games for the Warriors and was named the team’s captain in February. Moose Jaw was the worst team in the WHL, winning just 15 games and not expecting much better this season, so it’s likely Lakovic could see himself eventually flipped to a contending team like Capitals prospect Andrew Cristall was by the Kelowna Rockets last January.
For now, though, Lakovic is focused on making the most of his time with the Capitals and enjoying the unique experience of participating in camp at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
“Yeah, it’s actually pretty cool,” Lakovic said. “It’s my first time in this city, and the whole academy here – this rink’s pretty cool. It’s an awesome bonding experience. It’s a great experience for me and the other rookies, and so far I’m having a good time.”
The rookie camp portion of the Capitals’ preseason runs until Monday, September 15. Three days later, the team’s main training camp will begin at MedStar Capitals Iceplex.
Seahawks Re-Sign WR Cody White To Practice Squad
The Seattle Seahawks officially re-signed WR Cody White to their practice squad on Friday.
Here’s the Seahawks updated practice squad:
- DT Quinton Bohanna
- WR Tyrone Broden
- C Federico Maranges (International)
- LB Patrick O’Connell
- NT Brandon Pili
- S Jerrick Reed II
- LB Jamie Sheriff
- DT J.R. Singleton
- WR Ricky White III
- RB Jacardia Wright
- WR Courtney Jackson
- LB Chris Paul
- DB D’Anthony Bell
- DB Shemar Jean-Charles
- OT Amari Kight
- RB Damien Martinez
- WR Cody White
White, 26, wound up going undrafted out of Michigan State back in 2020. He later agreed to a three-year, $2.28 million contract with the Chiefs. However, Kansas City waived him with a non-football injury designation.
He had short stints with the Giants and Broncos before catching on Steelers in September 2020. He bounced on and off Pittsburgh’s practice squad the following two years and landed with the Seahawks’ practice squad in October 2023.
He was on and off Seattle’s practice squad last season and returned to the Seahawks this past March before recently being released.
In 2024, White appeared in four games for the Seahawks and recorded two receptions for 44 yards (22.0 YPC).
