Chimera’s loss is Burakovsky’s gain?
Jason Chimera refused to speak with the media after being chided by his coach last night for taking a costly penalty in overtime.
Head Coach Barry Trotz had the following harsh comments after the game.
“The only thing I’m disappointed in is the bad penalty at the end,” he said. “A bad, unnecessary penalty that cost us a point.”
Trotz seemed to soften about the situation by this morning’s practice, though, when asked if he had addressed the situation with Chimera.
“No, I didn’t even talk to him today,” he said, noting that he had no intention to do so. “No, I think he knows.”
While some speculated that Chimera’s mistake would be Andre Burakovsky’s gain (the rookie has been scratched since December 4 after recording 1 point in 10 games) Trotz noted that the two are unrelated.
“I was going to get Andre in (anyway),” he said. “Because he’s a young player that needs to play.”
Trotz noted that, at the age of 19, the undeniably talented Burakovsky lacks “man strength” and still needs to reach “the next level of professionalism.” He said that sometimes young players “just need a little reset” after breaking into the league.
The Capitals bench boss said the team’s coaches tell the young Swede to observe teammate Nicklas Backstrom as well as other top players in the league.
“It’s time for him I think,” Trotz said. “We’ll see when we play games.”
When asked about Burakovsky’s potential inclusion in the World Junior Championship, which will be held later this month in Canada, Trotz said that he and General Manager Brian MacLellan will not make a decision until the deadline. According to Trotz, he and the Capitals brass have not talked about the issue “at any length.”
“We figure (Burakovsky) is with us,” he said.
Namaste
A few media members were surprised to learn of the Capitals post-practice yoga session.
“I think it’s a necessary element in staying fit, staying flexible,” Trotz said, noting that yoga also helps with blood-flow and relaxation and that a lot of players do it over the summer. He said that a yoga workout, which the team participates in a couple of times a month, is just another part of a healthy lifestyle for athletes.
“That’s modern sports,” he said. “We don’t want our players to miss any time.”
Orlov Update
Trotz didn’t have much of a status update on Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov, who has been sidelined since an offseason wrist surgery.
“He’s hit a little bit of a plateau,” Trotz said, adding that the team’s medical staff is perhaps getting a little frustrated over the situation and will be weighing their options before making any more decisions about Orlov’s treatment.
