""Oh my god, Matt Hendricks is one of my favorite people of all time and a well-known Cap," Boudreau told Jeff Marek on a recent episode of the Hockey Lifers Podcast. "He played for me in Washington, he played for me in Minnesota - I'll tell you how we got him in Washington. That first year in Hershey - he was on an American League contract. He had come from the East Coast League to the American League."
""I just kept waiting for the Caps to sign him, and they didn't, and Colorado jumped in and signed him, and so he went and played in Colorado for a year, had a good year, and then at the end of that next year, they wouldn't meet Matt's demands, I guess. So I phoned Matt up, and I said, 'Matt, listen, just come to camp in Washington."
Matt Hendricks played with the Washington Capitals from 2010 to 2013 as a rugged fourth-line forward and cult hero during the Alex Ovechkin era. He began his professional journey in the AHL with the Hershey Bears in 2006-07, then spent time with Providence and Cleveland. Bruce Boudreau, who coached Hendricks in Hershey and later in Minnesota, actively pursued him after Colorado declined to meet Hendricks' demands. Boudreau promised Hendricks a roster spot if he attended Capitals camp, and Hendricks accepted a professional tryout. Hendricks quickly impressed decision makers, recording a hat trick in his first exhibition game and earning a place on the team.
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