"This summer, numerous Capitals upped their offseason training and spoke about their dedication to arriving at camp in top condition. When players arrive Saturday at Kettler Capitals Iceplex, they'll each be put to the test in the form of timed skating drills with plenty of repeated hard stops.

"Everybody knows, they've been on high alert with what we're going to do and when we're going to do it and what the test is," strength and conditioning coach Mark Nemish said, adding that players found out in July about the conditioning benchmark they are expected to complete. "For the four years that we've been doing the off-ice and the summer training, my book reflects the type of protocols that would get you up to doing that test."

Asked if the timed test is something the Capitals might implement at another time during the year, Nemish said it would depend on how the season unfolds and if there is a need to do one, also taking into account the fatigue caused by the test. "