The Capitals placed Mitch Love on team-imposed leave as an NHL investigation unfolds, keeping details private while training camp approaches. The league has not disclosed misconduct specifics, and Capitals officials will comment after the investigation. Love, a former enforcer turned coach, drew head-coaching interest this offseason, with ESPN reporting letters about his conduct that triggered the inquiry and indicating the issue began before he joined Washington.

The Capitals’ preseason development camp in Annapolis put a spotlight on a rising wave of talent. Andrew Cristall, Ryan Leonard, and Ilya Protas showed why they’re on the radar, blending speed, IQ, and size as drills run by a veteran staff headlined by Olie Kolzig, Brooks Orpik, Braden Holtby and Jim Slater. Off-ice bonding at the Naval Academy reinforced team cohesion as Washington faces an aging core and eyes a youth-driven push into the NHL lineup this fall.