Caps Briefing: Off To Camp We Go

Rejoice, hockey fans, for the season is almost upon us. On Monday, head coach Bruce Boudreau led some of his charges out onto the ice, as Caps rookies started working off summer rust Monday during the first day of the team's rookie camp at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex. The team spent the morning working through on-ice drills and receiving pointers from the coaching staff, including head coach Bruce Boudreau.

If the media lineup next to his locker on Monday was any indication, defenseman John Carlson will probably see plenty of action in a Caps uniform this year. Carlson, who scored two goals and had one assist during the Hershey Bears' Calder Cup run last year, caught Boudreau's eye during the last skating exercise, which looked like a death drill as exhausted players relayed back and forth between the lines.

"That was a pretty tough skate at the end, and [Carlson] was easily the one that lasted the longest all the time," Boudreau said.

Carlson also had an honorable mention from goaltender Braden Holtby, one of three rookie goaltenders on the camp's roster. Holtby -- who said he was able to spend time Monday with the Caps' new goalie coach Arturs Irbe -- also had high praise for defenseman Brett Fleming and brought up his name when asked who he'd most like to have in front of him when he's in the crease.

"Fleming was in my end a lot, and it seemed like one-on-one battles, no one could get by him," Holtby said. "Everyone's just so talented -- it's awesome to be here."

Some of the veterans had an informal skate in the afternoon (Boyd Gordon knocked in a few shots), sans the prominent Russian Alexanders, Ovechkin and Semin. One recognizable Russian who did appear on the Kettler ice Monday was goaltender Semyon Varlamov, who fended off shots during the morning session.

There were also three Boudreaus on the ice Monday -- an injury left the coach in need of a twelfth man, so, with general manager George McPhee's blessing, Boudreau drafted his two sons to help.

"My thoughts were, 'Better to send both of them out in case one of them couldn't last through the whole practice," Boudreau said, drawing a chuckle from the press.