Ben Raby, wtop.com

ARLINGTON, Va. - Of the 46 prospects at the Washington Capitals' development camp this week, only a handful will be invited to the team's main training camp in September. Within that smaller group, there may only be one or two players with any shot at making the Caps' opening night roster.

It's not a stretch to count Stanislav Galiev among that elite group of prospects. "That's my dream and I'll work hard for it," Galiev said of making the Capitals out of camp.

Galiev is participating in his third development camp since 2010 and after spending the past three years playing junior hockey in Canada, the 20-year-old is now gearing up for his first season as a pro.

Given that lack of professional experience though, Galiev could begin the year with the American Hockey League's Hershey Bears. That would be similar to the path taken a year ago by prospects Dmitry Orlov and Cody Eakin who went on to play 90 NHL games between them by season's end.

"In talking to his junior coach," said Bears head coach Mark French, "everybody raves about two things: That he's a very good kid- very coachable- and very North Americanized. But he's got an unbelievable skill set. He sees the ice very well and he's got a very good shot that's going to allow him to score."

The Capitals selected Galiev in the third round (86th overall) in the 2010 entry draft and then watched the Moscow native develop into an elite scorer with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Saint John Sea Dogs.

Galiev averaged a point-per-game in his last two regular-seasons with St. John (84 points in 84 games) and proved to be an elite playoff performer with 61 points in 36 playoff games the past two years.

"It's been a great few years for me in St. John. I learned a lot from [head coach] Gerard [Gallant], it was a great team and it just helped me."

Galiev led the QMJHL in playoff scoring last season with 16 goals and 34 points in 17 games, playing primarily with a pair of first round draft picks in Charlie Coyle and Zack Phillips (both Minnesota Wild prospects). The Sea Dogs went 16-1 in the postseason and were crowned league champions for the second straight year. The playoff success was particularly special for Galiev after undergoing wrist surgery during the regular-season and missing 48 games. The right winger said Monday that he's "fresh" and that the injury is behind him.

As for what lies ahead, the 6 feet 1 inch 188-pound Galiev admits that he still needs to fill out and get stronger. There is also the matter of improving his game without the puck.

"I think it's [a matter of] well-rounding his game," French said, "and understanding what his strengths are. We certainly don't want to take away those strengths, but maybe refine other areas of his game."

Those strengths lie in Galiev's offensive game and French is already looking forward to putting them to use among his top six forwards in Hershey.

"I think ultimately that's probably where he needs to play to best use his skills. I think we're probably looking at him in that role, putting him with some veteran guys that can complement some of his skill level. He'll have to earn that time. I think we want to send the message that we won't give him anything, but I think knowing what his skill level is, that's where he's best-suited."

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Ben Raby, wtop.com

ARLINGTON, Va. - Forty-six NHL hopefuls are gathering this week at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex for the Caps' annual development camp.

The majority of the attendees are still years away from playing professionally, but the week-long camp serves as a small taste of life in the NHL.

Of the 46 prospects, 27 spent last season playing college hockey, seven played junior hockey in Canada, five played junior hockey in the U.S., five played in Europe and two played professionally in the U.S.

Two players from last year's development camp, Dmitry Orlov and Cody Eakin, combined to play 90 games with the Capitals last season.

Noteworthy players to watch at this year's camp include 2012 first-round draft picks Filip Forsberg (11th overall) and Tom Wilson (16th overall).

Defenseman Patrick Wey is attending his fourth Caps development camp and the 2009 fourth-round pick is coming off an NCAA national championship last year with Boston College.

Forward Stanislav Galiev and defenseman Cameron Schilling are the most likely to see time with the Caps next season.

Galiev was a third-round pick (86th overall) in 2010 and suited up for the Caps last preseason, before returning to his junior team in Quebec.

Schilling, 23, was signed as a free agent last March following his senior season at Miami (Ohio) University. He went on to play seven games for the American Hockey League's Hershey Bears.

The development camp is open to the public throughout the week. See the schedule below.

Capitals Summer Development Camp On Ice Schedule

• Monday, July 9 - Group A on ice at 9 a.m.; Group B on ice at 10:45 a.m.; Scrimmage 3 p.m.

• Tuesday, July 10 - Group A on ice at 9 a.m.; Group B on ice at 10:45 a.m.; Scrimmage 2:45 p.m.

• Wednesday, July 11 - Group A on ice at 8:50 a.m.; Group B on ice at 10:50 a.m.

• Thursday, July 12 - Group B on ice at 9:15 a.m.; Group A on ice at 10:45 a.m.; Scrimmage 3 p.m.

• Friday, July 13 - Scrimmage at 9:45 a.m.

• Saturday, July 14 - Scrimmage at 10 a.m.

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(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

ARLINGTON, Va. - The Washington Capitals re-signed restricted free-agent centers Mathieu Perreault and Jay Beagle on Thursday.

Perreault received a two-year contract worth $2.1 million. Beagle got a three- year deal worth $2.7 million.

The 24-year-old Perreault set career highs with 16 goals and 14 assists last season. He also had his first career NHL hat trick and made his Capitals playoff debut.

Perreault was a sixth-round draft pick by Washington in 2006. He has 27 goals and 26 assists in 120 career NHL games.

The 26-year-old Beagle had four goals in 41 games last season. He also won 57.7 percent of his faceoffs, ranking second on the team.

Beagle was signed by Washington as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He has seven goals and three assists in 82 career NHL games.

Ben Raby, wtop.com

WASHINGTON - The Washington Capitals added depth to their blueline late Monday night, signing free agent defenseman Jack Hillen to a one-year $650,000 one-way contract.

Hillen had two goals and six points in 55 games with the Nashville Predators last season and will likely compete with the likes of Jeff Schultz and John Erskine for a shot at being the team's No.6 defenseman.

With Hillen onboard, general manager George McPhee now has five defensemen signed to NHL contracts (not including Tom Poti who remains on Long Term Injured Reserve or LTIR), with restricted free agents Mike Green and John Carlson expected to re- sign in the coming weeks.

Dmitry Orlov remains on his entry level contract, but McPhee expects the 20-year- old to have an expanded role with the Caps next season. Add it all up and the Caps may have eight NHL defensemen next season fighting for six spots.

"I'm just really excited to be with Washington and help add some defensive depth to their blueline," Hillen said in a conference call Tuesday.

"I think I'm a good puck moving defenseman who makes a good first pass and I'm a little more physical than a lot people give me credit for so that fits in well with Washington's style of play."

The 26-year-old is entering his fifth full professional season following a four year stint at Colorado College of the WCHA. During his senior season in 2008, Hillen was named the WCHA's Defensive Player of the Year and a WCHA First Team All Star.

Hillen was teammates for two years in Colorado with fellow free agent signee Joey Crabb. Crabb and the Capitals agreed on a one-way deal Sunday night.

"Joey and I got along real well at [Colorado College], we had a great experience there, he's two years older than me and I'm really happy for Joey that he got a nice contract. He's just a great guy and I'm sure that he's going to help the team a lot this year."

Following his NCAA career, Hillen signed with the New York Islanders where he remained through 2011. While on Long Island, Hillen developed into a dependable NHL defenseman notching career-highs of four goals and 22 points in 64 games in 2010-11. Hillen also finished second on the Islanders that season with 157 blocked shots.

Hillen then signed with Nashville last summer, where he'd eventually get his first taste of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 5-foot-10 inch, 190-pound blueliner dressed in two of Nashville's first-round games in April and is anxious for the opportunity to play more meaningful games come spring.

"Being with Nashville last year was such a change of pace for me from being with the Islanders," Hillen said.

"Nashville has had great success, especially recently, and seeing what it was like being around that winning organization really helped open my eyes to a lot of things. I'm excited to be joining Washington, another successful organization and I think what I learned from last year is what successful teams do. I hope that I can come in and help contribute to Washington who's had great success as well recently."

Hillen, who also represented the United States at the 2010 World Championships, spoke highly of his former teammates in Nashville Shea Weber and Ryan Suter. "I learned so much just from watching, especially from Ryan Suter because I think that he plays a similar style of game to me where he's not an overly big guy but he's always in the right position," Hillen said of the NHL's most coveted free agent defenseman.

"I learned a lot about body positioning and about what style I can play from watching Ryan Suter because he does everything well. He's always in the right position, he always comes out with the puck and his game is what I try to tailor mine after. I think watching him for a year really helped me develop more as a defenseman."

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(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

Ben Raby, @benraby31

WASHINGTON - The path from Anchorage, Alaska to Washington, D.C. can make for a long journey with many stops along way, just ask former vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin. The newest member of the Washington Capitals, Alaska native Joey Crabb, would also concur.

Crabb left home when he was 16-years-old and moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan to join to the U.S. National Team Development Program. Since then, Crabb has played junior hockey in Green Bay, college hockey in Colorado and minor pro hockey in Chicago and Toronto. Crabb has also played 144 NHL games for the Atlanta Thrashers and Toronto Maple Leafs.

But finally on Sunday, 13 years after he first left Alaska to pursue a hockey career, Crabb was rewarded with his first one-way NHL contract. Crabb, 29, signed a one-year $950,000 deal with the Capitals on the first day of free agency.

"You always have to have a strong work ethic and keep working hard," Crabb said in a conference call Monday.

"I was always confident in my game and confident that I could play in the NHL. Obviously I would have liked to get there a little earlier… but I think it made me a stronger person and it helps mentally."

Crabb's hard work paid off last season in Toronto where he had NHL career-highs across the board with 11 goals and 26 points in 66 games. He also developed into one of the Maple Leafs' top penalty killers and defensive checkers with his plus-1 rating ranking second on the team among players with at least 22 games.

"I'm more of an energy guy with a little bit of two-way game," Crabb said.

"I can take the body and create energy and get in on the forecheck. I have some offensive skills a little bit too that I'd like to chip in with here and there. I really pride myself on penalty killing and I think there are a few guys like that on Washington already so I think it will be a good fit."

In simpler terms, Crabb is your typical grinder, a classic bottom-six forward who typically earns the respect of his teammates in short order. He will likely fit in nicely playing alongside the likes of Jay Beagle and Matt Hendricks.

"Obviously there's a tremendous level of talent [with the Caps]," said Crabb who has yet to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

"They're excited to win and they expect to win every year and that's what I'm most excited about. Coming in and playing with elite players will be fun, I've heard great things about [head coach] Adam Oates and it will be fun playing for him."

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Ben Raby, wtop.com

WASHINGTON - Amid all of the coverage this week of the Washington Capitals hiring Adam Oates as the 16th head coach in team history, there has been plenty of focus on Oates' playing career.

Oates spent 19 years in the NHL and ranks sixth all-time in assists and 16th all- time in points. His career accomplishments will be celebrated Nov. 12 when he is officially inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2012.

When inducted, Oates will likely thank the coaches and teammates who helped him along the way. And when you play for seven teams spread over parts of three decades, chances are good that you played with some talented teammates along the way.

With that in mind, we've compiled the All-Adam Oates-Team, a roster made up entirely of Oates' former teammates. The roster includes 15 forwards, six defensemen, three goalies and two coaches.

Like the NHL's annual All Star Game, the only criteria for this roster was that all seven of Oates' former teams had at least one representative.

Among the omissions from this list were two of the game's best enforcers in Bob Probert and Chris Simon. We've also omitted Hall of Fame member Joe Mullen who Oates played briefly with in Boston for part of the 1995-96 season.

THE ADAM OATES ALL-TIME ROSTER:

Forwards

• Brendan Shanahan (STL)
• Paul Kariya (ANA)
• John LeClair (PHI)
• Ryan Smyth (EDM)
• Adam Graves (DET)
• Adam Oates
• Rod Brind'Amour (STL)
• Steve Yzerman (DET)
• Peter Bondra (WSH)
• Jeremy Roenick(PHI)
• Dale Hunter (WSH)
• Brett Hull (STL)
• Jaromir Jagr (WSH)
• Mark Recchi (PHI)
• Cam Neely (BOS)

Defensemen

• Raymond Bourque (BOS)
• Eric Desjardins (PHI)
• Sergei Gonchar (WSH)
• Scott Stevens (STL)
• Calle Johansson (WSH)
• Glen Wesley (BOS)

Goalies

• Curtis Joseph (STL)
• Andy Moog (BOS)
• Olaf Kolzig (WSH)

Coaches