"It's a great matchup for us," Rod Brind'Amour began with regarding the news. "Obviously we've had a pretty good history here with them lately and they've been one of the best teams in the league for a while. That's the type of team we're trying to become, so I think it's a great fit and hopefully, it's a great game."
The 'type of team' that Brind'Amour alludes to is one that is a contender year in and year out, as Washington has been over the last several seasons. With the current Capitals core having achieved the ultimate goal in 2018, there's respect from Carolina for what their foes have accomplished, but also a belief that they're next in terms of being a club with a target on their backs for years to come.
"The Caps are a team that have been good for a really long time. We had the really tough series against them and I think it took a good bite out of both teams," Canes captain Jordan Staal said of the news Thursday. "If we want to continue to be the type of team we want to be, we're going to continue to run into teams like that. To play a game against a team like that, on a stage like that, our fans are going to eat that up and it's going to be a lot of fun."
For Staal, it will be his second go-around in an outdoor game against Washington, having gone head-to-head with them as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins at Heinz Field in the 2011 Winter Classic.
"The outdoor experience is exactly what you think it'll be. I'm assuming for a lot of players they grew up playing outdoors and it's where a lot of players fell in love with the game. Being outside with your friends, playing the game, and just having fun with it," he continued. "Then you upgrade that to playing in front of 60,000 fans, doing it in the NHL and it all comes together for a very special moment and a very special thing. I've had the ability to play in a couple of them and it was a really cool experience."
With the event set to take place at Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday, February 18, 2023, approximately 60,000 fans are expected to be in attendance.
"We're very excited to host next year's Stadium Series game at Carter-Finley against Washington. This event is big for our region and our great Caniacs," Canes President & General Manager offered. "We believe that it will not only be a great matchup on the ice, but it also being a rivalry will only enhance the experience as a whole."
The Canes are set to become the 28th NHL team to play in an outdoor game and the contest will also come in the organization's 25th anniversary season.
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