The Washington Capitals are still battling for a playoff spot no matter how razor-thin their margins might be.
With 18 regular-season games to play, they have roughly an 11 percent chance at making the playoffs, likely leaving them on the outside looking in when it's all said and done. After being sellers at the trade deadline, that thrusts the remaining veterans into a position of mentorship as younger players get an opportunity to prove themselves, not the typical roles Caps players are accustomed to around this time of year.
Capitals center Nic Dowd was asked how he plans to approach this role during his weekly appearance with 106.7 The Fan's Grant & Danny, which is presented exclusively by our partners at MainStreet Bank — Cheer Local. Bank Local. Put Our Team in Your Office.
Specifically, Dowd was asked whether it's the type of situation where he sits down with the younger prospects as they make their first NHL appearances.
"I definitely don't think it's a sitdown thing," Dowd said. "I think that you want to try and not put pressure on these kids that are coming up, because I mean it's a whirlwind. You get called up and you get to tell your family, you tell your girlfriend or fiancé or whatever, and you move all your stuff, you grab your hockey bag and then bang, you're either on a plane or you're coming to meet a whole new group of guys that obviously are probably pretty intimidating guys, right?"
"We're a veteran team that have won Stanley Cups who have been to the playoffs," he said. "I can just talk to when I got called up my first time is that you're just trying to focus on hockey, but there's just so much external stuff going on. And then on top of it, it's like hey, you only get so many chances here. You better make the best of it.
"And oh, by the way, you're playing in a new NHL arena, you're staying at different hotels, you're meeting new guys, you've left your family behind. I think it's just the kid's gonna put enough pressure on himself to perform, so I think you just try and help him out."
"The guy's got to understand that the better he plays, the better we all play and the better we all look," he continued. "I think it's just a benefit to try and help each other out, in that instance."
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