The Washington Capitals held a practice session at MedStar Capitals Iceplex on Sunday, welcoming their latest acquisitions, Timothy Liljegren and David Kampf, who joined the team for the first time. Both players arrived after the trade deadline on Friday, coming from the San Jose Sharks and Vancouver Canucks respectively, and did not travel with the team to Boston for their game against the Bruins on Saturday.
Expectations for Liljegren and Kampf to Fill Key Roles
Liljegren and Kampf were brought in to compensate for the recent departures of defenseman John Carlson and center Nic Dowd. Liljegren, like Carlson, plays as a right-shot defender, while Kampf is expected to fill Dowd’s role as a fourth-line center with significant penalty-killing and defensive responsibilities. Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery, who coached both players during his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2021 to 2023, expressed confidence in their integration into the squad.
“Know them both really, really well,” Spencer Carbery, Capitals head coach
Player Performance and Potential Debut Against Calgary
This season, Liljegren has appeared in 43 games for the Sharks, contributing 11 points with one goal and ten assists, and averaging over 20 minutes of ice time per game. Kampf, after parting ways with the Maple Leafs, joined the Canucks and scored six points in 38 games. The Capitals are hopeful both will make their debut together when they face the Calgary Flames at Capital One Arena on Monday.
“Lookin’ good Rockin’ the Red, Lily and Kampfer! pic.twitter.com/2iVRYrCWSE” Washington Capitals, Team Twitter
Ovechkin and Thompson Rest During Practice
While the new players took to the ice, captain Alex Ovechkin and starting goaltender Logan Thompson were absent from practice for maintenance purposes. Ovechkin logged 18:22 minutes on ice in the recent game against Boston, while Thompson made 27 saves on 29 shots in the 3-1 loss.
Implications of New Additions for Capitals’ Season
Integrating Kampf and Liljegren offers the Capitals fresh options to reinforce their defense and checking lines as the season progresses. Their debut at home against the Flames could provide the team with a much-needed boost, balancing the loss of key players and adding depth to Washington’s roster in a critical phase of the campaign.
Lookin’ good Rockin’ the Red, Lily and Kampfer! pic.twitter.com/2iVRYrCWSE
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 8, 2026
