Washington

Possible Position Battles Entering Washington Capitals’ Training Camp

Published

2 years ago

August 30, 2024

Possible Position Battles Entering Washington Capitals’ Training Camp

After significant roster movement occurred over the summer, the Washington Capitals will have a new look for the 2024-25 season, leading to competition for several roles as opening night approaches. With training camp starting in three weeks and the exhibition slate set to begin on September 22, NoVa Caps takes a look at the key battles up for grabs in camp and preseason:

2LW
- Jakub Vrana – The 2018 Stanley Cup champion will join Washington on a PTO and has the talent to be a top-six forward, with two 20-goal seasons under his belt and 92 goals and 170 points in 252 games (.67 points per game—tied for 142nd among all players who played at least 200 games from 2018-23). If he can get his personal life together, Vrana could make a significant impact. He spent a couple of months in the NHLPA Player Assistance Program in 2022 and has since cleared waivers twice with the Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues.

- Hendrix Lapierre – The 22-year-old established himself as an everyday NHL player last season, notching eight goals and 22 points in 51 regular-season games (a 13-goal, 35-point pace over 82 games), in addition to the goal and assist he earned in the postseason during his first full season. Despite being sent down to AHL Hershey for five weeks in mid-January, Lapierre scored six goals and 16 points in 27 NHL games (0.59 points per game) from January 18 onwards, ranking fifth on the roster, excluding Anthony Mantha and Evgeny Kuznetsov (both of whom were traded in early March).

- Andrew Mangiapane – The 28-year-old had his lowest goal total (14) in five full NHL seasons across 75 games, which is understandable considering the Calgary Flames sold off Tyler Toffoli, Nikita Zadorov, Elias Lindholm, and Chris Tanev last season. He had at least 17 goals and 30 points in each of his previous four seasons, including a 35-goal campaign in 2021-22. Washington acquired Mangiapane on June 27.
- Connor McMichael – The 23-year-old impressed last season, finishing with 18 goals (tied for third on the team) and 33 points (fifth) in a career-high 80 games. Both McMichael and Lapierre were first-round picks by Washington in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
- The players who do not get this roster spot will likely make up the Capitals’ third-line, although Sonny Milano will almost certainly be the left-wing on that trio. McMichael or Lapierre will likely be the third-line center.
4LW
- Brandon Duhaime – If Vrana makes the team, it will likely push someone down the lineup (likely Aliaksei Protas) and another player out. The 27-year-old scored five goals, 13 points, and had a .4512 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage in 80 games with the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche last season. He also scored a goal in Colorado’s 11 postseason games. Duhaime averaged 2:06 per game on the penalty kill with Minnesota (third among the team’s forwards) and 2:11 with Colorado (third).

- Taylor Raddysh – The 26-year-old notched five goals, 14 points, and a .4288 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage in 73 games with the Chicago Blackhawks last season. Raddysh averaged 1:48 per game on the power play (ninth among Chicago forwards) and 1:33 on the penalty kill (fourth).
3RHD
- Ethan Bear – The 26-year-old tallied a goal, four points, a -5 rating, a .4537 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, a .4089 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and a .4181 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in 24 games before entering the NHLPA Player Assistance Program. Bear did not make his season debut until December 30 last year due to offseason shoulder surgery. The Capitals will likely pay close attention to him during training camp after a full offseason of unrestricted training.
- Trevor Van Riemsdyk – While averaging 18:40 per game (fifth among Capitals defensemen), including 1:35 on the penalty kill (fourth), the 32-year-old recorded 14 assists, a -7 rating, a .4674 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, a .5049 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and a .4964 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in 70 games. He was healthy scratched a couple of times after Bear was brought in.

- Alexander Alexeyev – The 24-year-old played a career-high 39 games this season, posting a goal, three points, a -8 rating, a .4674 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, a .4996 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and a .514 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage while averaging 13:42 per game (ninth among team defensemen), including 28 seconds on the penalty kill (sixth). Alexeyev performed admirably in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where he recorded a .627 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, a .7683 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and a .7069 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage, all of which led Washington defensemen who appeared in all four postseason games. An advantage for Alexeyev could be Bear’s ($2.625 million cap hit) and Van Riemsdyk’s ($3 million) high salaries, which could lead to a trade of at least one of them before opening night, with Washington up against the NHL salary cap.

In addition to these open spots, Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren will compete for ice time, and Dylan Strome and Pierre-Luc Dubois will vie for the first-line center position, though both of these roles could very well be interchangeable throughout the season.

With training camp approaching, the Capitals still need to finalize a few details regarding their lineup for October 12 after an offseason of roster tinkering. With new players coming in, salary cap adjustments needed, and young players demanding more ice time, this should be a very exciting camp in the District.

By Harrison Brown

About Harrison Brown

Harrison is a diehard Caps fan and a hockey fanatic with a passion for sports writing. He attended his first game at age 8 and has been a season ticket holder since the 2010-2011 season. His fondest Caps memory was watching the Capitals hoist the Stanley Cup in Las Vegas. In his spare time, he enjoys travel, photography, and hanging out with his two dogs. Follow Harrison on Twitter @HarrisonB927077

This entry was posted in News and tagged Alexander Alexeyev, Andrew Mangiapane, Brandon Duhaime, Connor McMichael, Ethan Bear, Harrison Brown, Hendrix Lapierre, Jakub Vrana, Roster, Stats, Taylor Raddysh, Training Camp, Trevor Van Riemsdyk, Washington Capitals. Bookmark the permalink.

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Washington

Suspect arrested in fatal stabbing of University of Washington student

Published

9 hours ago

May 15, 2026

Press Room

Suspect arrested in fatal stabbing of University of Washington student

A man wanted in connection with the fatal stabbing of a University of Washington student was arrested after photos of him were released to the public, authorities said on Thursday, May 14.

The Seattle Police Department did not name the suspect, but said in a statement that a 31-year-old man had turned himself in to the Bellevue Police Department. In a separate statement, the Bellevue Police Department said the suspect was arrested at about 10:42 p.m. local time on May 13.

The suspect was then transferred to the custody of Seattle Police Department homicide detectives and was booked into the “King County Jail for investigation of Murder,” according to police.

The arrest comes after police released photos taken from security camera footage of the suspect on May 13 and asked for the public’s assistance in the investigation. The photos appeared to show the man inside a laundry room.

On May 10, University of Washington police officers responded to the Nordheim Court apartments, an off-campus housing complex for undergraduate students, and found a woman stabbed to death in the laundry room. The victim, who a local official previously said was a 19-year-old transgender student, was identified by the King County Medical Examiner’s Office as Juniper C. Blessing on May 14.

The incident sparked a law enforcement investigation and prompted authorities to advise Nordheim Court residents to stay in their homes and lock their doors and windows for several hours.

In a statement on May 14, University of Washington President Robert Jones announced an arrest had been made “in connection with the horrific act that took the life of one of our students on Sunday night.”

“I hope the arrest brings some sense of relief to our community,” Jones said. “But this arrest does not lessen the profound shock and grief that the victim’s loved ones and our campus are still experiencing or bring back a beloved, promising and talented member of our university.”

“Much is still unknown about what caused this tragedy, and while this development is important, we will be looking closely at the circumstances in which this event occurred as part of our continued efforts to keep our campus community safe,” he added, noting that the university “remains committed to offering resources for those who need support, including our LGBTQIA+ community, during this difficult time.”

University of Washington student was found dead in laundry room

The University of Washington also confirmed on May 14 that the suspect arrested in connection with the fatal stabbing was the man in the photos shared by police. The Seattle Police Department had described the suspect as a Black man, about 5 feet, 7 inches tall, with short black hair and a “goatee with ingrown scruff around the jaw.”

Police added that the suspect was wearing rimmed eyeglasses; a long-sleeve, dark blue full zip shirt with a white collared shirt underneath; dirty blue jeans; and “dirty dark, possibly gray shoes with a light sole.”

University of Washington police officers responded to a report of a stabbing at about 10:10 p.m. local time on May 10 at Nordheim Court, according to the Seattle Police Department. Responding officers discovered a victim in a laundry room, the Seattle Police Department said in a statement on May 11.

Responding officers and the Seattle Fire Department “attempted lifesaving treatment,” but the Seattle Police Department said the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. After campus police cordoned off the area, the Seattle Police Department took over the investigation, and detectives arrived to process the scene.

In an emergency campus alert sent at about 10:40 p.m. local time on May 10, the University of Washington said campus police were investigating a death that occurred at the Nordheim Court apartments building. The alert advised residents of Nordheim Court to “stay indoors and lock doors and windows.”

By around 11:05 p.m., the university said the area had been secured but urged residents to remain indoors. Shortly before 1 a.m. on May 11, the university told residents that they no longer needed to remain indoors but noted that the investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Both police and the university later confirmed on May 11 that a student had been killed in the laundry room at Nordheim Court. The housing complex is privately managed and operated by Greystar, according to the university’s website and Balta.

Nordheim Court offers 454 units ranging in size from studios to four bedrooms, the university’s website states. The housing complex consists of eight buildings, and laundry facilities are located in Building 1 and Building 7.

The university said the student was found dead in Building 7.

‘Juniper was simply the most amazing human being we have ever known’

In a statement shared by the Human Rights Alliance of Santa Fe on behalf of Blessing’s family, the LGBTQ+ advocacy group said the family was “currently in a state of profound shock and heartbreak, processing an unimaginable loss.”

“This loss has devastated not only those closest to their child but also many others throughout the Seattle, Santa Fe, and LGBTQIA2S communities who are mourning as well,” the organization said, adding that Blessing’s family has asked for privacy.

In the statement, the family said Blessing was born in Princeton, New Jersey, and attended Littlebrook School and Princeton Middle School until they moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 2018. Blessing’s family described them as a “gifted singer with a transcendent voice,” who studied at the New Mexico School for the Arts from 2020 to 2024.

The family noted that Blessing loved weather since early childhood and intended to study atmospheric science at the University of Washington while also pursuing minors in music and philosophy. They added that Blessing was “courageously living their life as who they were until it was cut tragically short.”

“Our family has been shattered by the loss of our child, Juniper Blessing, to an act of unspeakable violence near the University of Washington campus in Seattle,” according to the statement. “Juniper was simply the most amazing human being we have ever known – highly intelligent, extremely talented, and deeply sensitive to the needs of others. Juniper’s loss not only devastates us but diminishes the world.”

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Washington

Federal ‘summer surge’ to target youth crime in DC

Published

21 hours ago

May 14, 2026

Press Room

Federal ‘summer surge’ to target youth crime in DC

Federal authorities are planning a “summer surge” aimed at reducing crimes committed by young people in D.C. sources tell News4.

U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro is expected to announce Friday that the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force will do additional enforcement and get more resources, law enforcement sources said.

Feds launching a “Summer Surge” to increase efforts and resources around DC Safe & Beautiful Task Force. Sources tell @nbcwashington that @USAttyPirro will announce more resources aimed at reducing juvenile crime as soon as tomorrow.
— Mark Segraves (@SegravesNBC4) May 14, 2026

The move comes about two weeks after the D.C. Council chose not to vote on extending Mayor Muriel Bowser’s emergency youth curfew zones over the summer.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order in March 2025 that established the task force. He declared a crime emergency and temporarily federalized the locally run Metropolitan Police Department in August 2025.

Trump threatened to seize control of MPD after teens attacked then-Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employee Edward Coristine, who was known by the nickname Big Balls.

Pirro has repeatedly railed against youth who commit crimes and told News4 she would like to see children as young as 12 prosecuted as adults.

“The time for coddling young people – 14, 15, 16, 17 – is over. And it’s time that we lowered the age of criminal responsibility,” she said in August.

Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.

News4 sends breaking news stories by email. Go here to sign up to get breaking news alerts in your inbox.

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Houston pizza bar owner says he was arrested after dispute over health permit

Published

2 days ago

May 13, 2026

Press Room

Houston pizza bar owner says he was arrested after dispute over health permit

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The owner of a popular Washington Avenue restaurant says he was arrested after a dispute with city health inspectors over whether his business had a valid permit to operate.

Surveillance video recorded May 6 inside Betelgeuse Betelgeuse shows owner Chris Cusack speaking with Houston Health Department officials before he was taken into custody.

“I was pretty dazed, and all I could do is comply until it all got figured out,” Cusack said.

Cusack was charged with failure to comply with local health and sanitary laws after authorities accused the restaurant of operating without a food dealer’s permit.

The Houston Health Department says food dealer permits are valid for one year and must be renewed annually.

Cusack disputes the allegation, saying he has paperwork he believes proves the business had renewed its permit in March.

“I pulled it off the wall and showed it to him,” Cusack said. “He said it wasn’t the right business. I said it has my business’ name and address on it.”

Cusack said inspectors questioned whether the permit was tied to the correct business identification number.

“(The inspector) saw the first ID and said, ‘Ah ha, that’s the one you’re working under, so therefore this isn’t valid,’” Cusack said.

ABC13 reached out to the Houston Health Department with questions about the arrest. The department referred questions to the Houston Police Department.

According to HPD, the health department ordered the business closed in October 2025 for operating without a permit, though officials did not specify which type of permit was involved.

Police said the business was instructed to remain closed until it complied with health regulations. On May 4, inspectors learned the restaurant was open, according to HPD. Inspectors returned two days later, when Cusack was arrested.

Cusack said he was never told to shut down the business and questioned why inspectors waited months before returning.

The restaurant, known for pizza and drinks, reopened following the arrest and was serving customers again on Wednesday.

Cusack also expressed concern about what he described as aggressive enforcement targeting Washington Avenue businesses.

The entertainment district has faced increased law enforcement scrutiny in recent years as city leaders attempted to curb reckless behavior and nightlife-related crime.

“Washington Avenue business owners are just being confused by these intense raids on businesses for what are typically really basic scenarios,” Cusack said.

Court records show Cusack is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday on the charge.

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