Grabovski eager to join Capitals

BELLEVILLE, Ontario (AP) — Mikhail Grabovski’s only real link to the Washington Capitals has come in the form of text messages from Alex Ovechkin.

“He always tries to help me, texts me messages and tries (to) explain to me about the area in Washington,” Grabovski said.

The former Toronto Maple Leafs center doesn’t know much about the city he signed in because visa issues have prevented him from joining his new team.

Still in Toronto, Grabovski has been happy to spend more time with his family, but is also eager to begin a new chapter of his career with the Capitals.

Grabovski was so eager that he made the drive to Belleville to skate with his new teammates Saturday morning before their preseason opener against the Winnipeg Jets.

It was at least a brief chance to get acclimated to a team that’s still unfamiliar to him with the start of the regular season less than three weeks away.