FIERCE FINN:
At 6-4, 222 pounds, winger Oskar Osala was a man among boys last season for the OHL's Mississauga Ice Dogs. The power forward, a native of Vassa, Finland, scored 22 goals and generated respect with his physical play.
"When you're big like me, you have to finish every check," Osala said. "That's just a part of the North American game. That's what I will always do.
"I try to do everything to help the team win. I try to finish my checks, shoot a lot, and try to make room for my teammates."
Osala, a fourth-round draft pick (97th overall) in 2006, is eligible to return to Mississauga. However, the expectation is that he will go pro, where he projects to Hershey's roster.
"Osala has tremendous character and personality," Capitals GM George McPhee said. "He's a very mature kid. Great physical size. He should probably turn pro. I don't think it would benefit him to go play another year of juniors."
Osala agrees.
"That's definitely my goal," he said. "I don't think the OHL will be good for me next year."
The 19-year-old has spent the last two seasons with Mississauga after opting to play in North America rather than stay in Finland.
"I thought playing pro in Finland would be maybe good, but they don't like to play young guys in big roles there," Osala said. "So I would probably play like fourth line back home. I thought it would be better for my development to play junior in North America. I thought I would get a better chance to get drafted. That all worked out pretty well. I'm really happy I made the move."
Another Finn at development camp, defenseman Sami Lepisto, also is expected to play in Hershey. Unlike Osala, Lepisto opted to stay in Finland, where he's played for Jokerit the last four seasons.
After an eight-goal, 21-assist season in 2005-06, he said he considered signing with the Caps, who drafted him in the third round (66th overall) in 2004.
"The question was in the air last year," Lepisto said. "I thought I should stay one more year in Finland and play a good season."
Lepisto, 22, was limited to 29 games due to injury in 2006-07 and signed with Washington this year. At camp, the 5-11, 176-pounder formed an impressive defensive pair with tectonic Joe Finley (6-7, 233), who will return to the University of North Dakota in 2007-08.
"Very smart, very good with the puck," McPhee said of Lepisto. "A puck-possession kind of guy. A power-play guy. We like what we see there."