After a short stint with Washington’s American Hockey League affiliate, Milano rapidly emerged as a key asset in the Capitals’ dramatic turnaround this season. He has seven targets and 12 assists in 31 video games, together with 4 targets in his previous 10 video games.
“First and foremost I want to help this team out, and I am excited about the opportunity that they gave me, and I own that,” stated Milano, who was chosen sixteenth total by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2014 NHL draft. “But definitely there’s a chip on my shoulder, obviously, from how the summer went. I did have something to prove.”
Milano had 14 targets and 20 assists in 66 video games for Anaheim final season, and the Ducks opted to not re-sign the ahead in the summer season. The Calgary Flames later signed him to knowledgeable tryout provide however launched him shortly after he went scoreless in 4 preseason video games.
Washington then took an opportunity on the winger. The final result has been mutually helpful.
“It’s been a great year so far,” Milano stated. “Definitely super excited to be a part of this team and obviously got a little weird during the summer and didn’t know what was going to happen, so I am happy to be here. Ups and downs, but so far so good.”
Milano has been a key contributor for a Washington crew that has seen a resurgence in the previous month and a half. The Capitals (23-15-6) have been removed from playoff rivalry in late November however turned issues round in December. Their subsequent sport is Saturday at house in opposition to the Philadelphia Flyers.
Milano’s contributions have been noticeable. He earned his spot in a jampacked Washington lineup and stayed there, even after the returns of Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson.
Milano seemed to be the odd man out when the two returned, however his offensive contributions and pace have saved him in. Anthony Mantha has been a wholesome scratch as a substitute.
“He is a skilled player that competes hard,” Capitals Coach Peter Laviolette stated final week. “He has come in and has provided good offense for us — good minutes.”
Milano hasn’t been recognized for his defensive prowess, however he is happy with the current work he has put into that facet of his sport.
“It is important to me,” Milano stated. “I don’t know if that is something others know, but that it is important to me. Definitely, I’ve worked hard to learn how to be a good defensive player over the years. It took a lot of correcting, but I think I made a lot of improvements.”
Milano’s teammates have additionally been impressed with him.
“I feel like he has the opportunity to be him on our team,” heart Evgeny Kuznetsov stated. “So far I like what I see from him, and I think the coach likes what he sees from him too.”
Kuznetsov stated that when Milano was launched from his skilled tryout settlement with Calgary, Kuznetsov floated his title to his hometown Kontinental Hockey League crew in Russia and urged it attempt to signal him.
Kuznetsov stated he remembered Milano from his time in Anaheim and Columbus and preferred his willingness to make a dangerous play in addition to his consciousness of when to tug again and keep conservative.
“I like when good players come and play like that. … I was very high on Sonny, and then two weeks later [Washington] signed him,” Kuznetsov stated. “I just spoke with [the KHL team] a few days ago, and I was like, ‘You see what happen?’ and they were like, ‘Yeah, man, you were right.’ Unfortunate for them and good for us.”
Milano and Kuznetsov have performed on a line collectively at instances this season, and Kuznetsov has praised Milano for his means to be in the proper spot at the proper time with little to no communication.
“He’s pushed me a lot, too,” Milano stated about Kuznetsov. “At first I was very timid; you don’t want to make a lot of mistakes. But he helped push me and my game, and I really respect that from him.”