Ben Raby, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – Although the Caps lost to the Winnipeg Jets 4-1Thursday, there were in the company of a familiar face.
Former Caps forward Eric Fehr- traded to Winnipeg in July – is back in his home province and hosted a few of his former teammates to dinner Wednesday night.
Fehr told the Capitals Radio Network Thursday afternoon that he’s kept an eye on his former teammates this season and that he’s even caught a few Caps games on television. Fehr has caught quite a few games on the television, as he remains sidelined after offseason shoulder surgery.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” says Fehr, who has now undergone three shoulder operations in his NHL career. “Over the last couple of weeks, I think I’ve taken steps in the right direction and I hope to be playing in the next week or two.”
Fehr was the Capitals first round pick (18th overall) in the 2003 entry draft, and played 230 games with Washington, collecting 46 goals and 93 points.
With one year and $2.2 million remaining on his contract in the off-season, Fehr may have fallen victim to the salary cap as Capitals general manager George McPhee sent him to the Jets for a 2012 fourth round draft pick and minor leaguer Danick Paquette.
“I was in my hometown in Winkler, [Manitoba], hanging out with my brother on the golf course,” Fehr said of the day he was traded.
“I got the call and I was definitely shocked. It wasn’t something I was expecting and it’s really tough the first time you get traded. It’s a tough feeling to have. It made it a little bit easier knowing that I was going to be in Winnipeg- close to my friends and family- but it still leaves a bit of hole in your stomach after you get traded.”
The Capitals are the only professional organization Fehr had ever known, as he came up through the Caps minor league system, winning an AHL Calder Cup with the Hershey Bears in 2006.
“We’ve had a lot of good teams in the past,” Fehr says.
“I think the Capitals are really close to having a successful team and obviously I wanted to be a part of it. But now that I’ve moved on to Winnipeg I have the same dreams for this team. I think we have a good young core and players that want to win and I’m excited to have that challenge here in Winnipeg.”
While the disappointment of being traded from Washington still lingers, Fehr is also embracing this special season in Winnipeg, where the NHL has returned for the first time since 1996.
“They’ve been super excited,” Fehr said of the fans in Winnipeg. “They’ve obviously sold out the rink every game
