What happened: Washington Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary confirmed his physical conditioning is much improved compared to the start of last season. He addressed reporters following practice to discuss the defensive corps and the ramp-up to the regular season.

Why it matters: The Capitals rely heavily on the physical blue-liner to stabilize their defensive pairings. Having him available to log major minutes from opening night solidifies the unit as the coaching staff finalizes the roster.

What to watch: Washington evaluates its defensive rotations in live action when it hosts the Boston Bruins on Friday at Capital One Arena.