Prospect Goes Big Game Hunting

Though he was drafted to play major junior hockey in Shawinigan, Quebec, Pokulok decided to leave his home just west of Montreal Island after he graduated from high school and move to Saskatchewan, where he felt he would have a better chance of being scouted for a college scholarship. He chose Cornell almost immediately.

Last season while playing for the Big Red, Pokulok, who majored in applied economics and management, had four goals and nine assists in 27 games. During his two years at Cornell, Pokulok's father, John, missed one home game, regularly making the 4 1/2 -hour drive.

"It's like the icing on the cake," John Pokulok said. "Whatever level they've [Sasha and younger brother Nick] played at, it's always been the highest level. We've been kind of spoiled that way. Now it's like the rewards -- we're seeing better and better hockey."

Capitals Notes: Veteran right wing Richard Zednik, whom the Capitals acquired from the Montreal Canadiens for a third-round pick Wednesday, said Thursday that he was "hurt" by his diminished role in Montreal late last season and had asked to be traded.

"After the coach [Claude Julien] got fired [in January], it didn't go well for me," Zednik said by telephone from Slovakia. "I felt my time was up in Montreal and I needed a change."

Zednik added he's looking forward to the prospect of skating alongside rookie of the year Alex Ovechkin. "He is a special player," Zednik said. "I'm looking forward to seeing him on the ice and seeing him every night." . . .

The Capitals re-signed center Brooks Laich, who had seven goals and 14 assists in 73 games last season, to a one-year contract worth $627,000. . . .

Minor league goalie Frederic Cassivi, the MVP of the Calder Cup playoffs, signed a two-year deal and remains third on the organization's depth chart.

Staff writer Tarik El-Bashir contributed to this report.