Stefan Della Rovere, pictured here at last winter’s World Junior
Championships, isn’t afraid to mix it up. Photo used under a
Creative Commons license with leafschik1967.

The Capitals wrapped up their development camp Saturday with a Fan Fest and a scrimmage that had not one, but two fights, and went into a shootout. Not bad for a July game.

But development camp is all about looking forward, and Saturday’s two fights may have been interesting omens for the future. Right now, the Capitals certainly have guys who aren’t afraid to throw a few punches. But as far as that get-under-your-skin Steve Downie/Chris Pronger type, there’s a big, gaping hole on the Capitals’ bench (though that’s not inherently a bad thing).

Enter Stefan Della Rovere, one of the two participants in the second fight during Saturday’s development camp scrimmage.

“I think Stefan Della Rovere saw somebody picking on [center] Cody Eakin, and he went and challenged that guy,” Boudreau said about the bout.

At 5’11” and 199 pounds, Della Rovere’s style is a little different than fellow camp participant Big Joe Finley’s, who won the first fight Saturday against Anthony Pisano. At 6’8″, Finley’s size makes him a natural for any kind of enforcer role. But Della Rovere has a style the Capitals media guide describes as “love to have him on your team, hate to play against him.”

“I get that a lot, actually,” Della Rovere said when asked if that description was accurate. “A lot of guys like playing with me, like having me on their team, cause if you’re not on my team, I’m probably going to hit you.”