Hathaway gains quick acceptance from team
CALGARY, ALBERTA — Some words used to describe Washington Capitals forward Garnet Hathaway through the first three weeks of the season: gritty, grinder, physical, fighter, smart, tough, special and great teammate.
All embody Hathaway, the Capitals home-run offseason acquisition from Calgary — with some qualities being showcased more than others. After signing a four-year, $6 million deal in the summer, Hathaway has brought his aggressive, physical style of play to a team seeking more of those qualities.
Originally slated as a fourth-line winger, Hathaway has been a strong addition to the team’s third line, alongside center Lars Eller and Jakub Vrana. After scoring 11 goals and recording eight assists last season with the Flames, Hathaway already has two goals and three assists for the Capitals.
The 27-year-old, who was born in Naples, Fla., and grew up in Kennebunkport, Maine, made his return to Calgary for Tuesday night’s game.
“He’s a special guy in terms of his [willingness to] compete [and] his character,” Capitals coach Todd Reirden said. “It’s really high end.”
Hathaway had a unique path to the NHL starting when he began playing the sports at about 3. His parents had signed his older brother up for the sport and Hathaway said he just “went along for the ride.”
The family had a pond at its house that would freeze over, allowing for constant ice time. Hathaway gives credit to his parents for driving him to hockey camps throughout the years, with their sacrifice leading him to Brown University.
At Brown, he totaled 30 goals and 38 assists in 121 games. He was invited to two NHL development camps after his junior year, Pittsburgh and Boston. Reirden, who met him at the development camp at Pittsburgh, said he started following Hathaway’s development from that point.
Reirden said he made some calls to Hathaway over this past summer, knowing he would be a good fit in the bottom six, and now, Hathaway has earned his spot on the third line. Hathaway’s rugged style of play has earned him respect.
“He makes you want to fight for your teammate and he is with us there on the ice,” Vrana said. “He brings more respect on the ice. People just don’t go running into him.”
In Friday’s game against the New York Rangers, Hathaway suffered a broken nose after a high hit, left the game, came back and then got into a fight — broken nose and all — and drew a penalty that led a Washington power-play goal.
“He’s done an outstanding job and deserved that bump up to the third line that he got,” Reirden said. “I think we’re just kind of tapping into some of the things that this player can do.”
When asked about why he chose Washington in free agency over the summer, Hathaway had to collect his thoughts. There were so many reasons, he explained, it was hard to pick where to start. He eventually started with the Capitals’ success over the last five years, the character of players they have in the room and, finally, that will to win.
“That, that’s something that was impossible to say no to,” Hathaway said. “It’s so exciting to join that environment.
“I want to continue to grow off the offensive experiences and being consistent. [With] an 82-game season, plus the playoffs, you always have to be ready to go. You always have to be dialed in.”