Brenden Dillon shares how trade from Sharks to Capitals led to six wild weeks

For most United States residents, the expression “stay at home” is a current way of life. But for former Sharks defenseman Brenden Dillon, it’s more like “stay at hotel."

As in his temporary residence in Arlington, Va., as a relatively new member of the Washington Capitals.
 
“I almost feel like a bit of a Lone Ranger with where I’m at,” Dillon told NBC Sports California on Thursday. “My place in San Jose, and my home in Vancouver, that’s kind of a long ways from here right now, to go through what the world is dealing with.”
 
Dillon has been through a whirlwind of last two months. In mid-February, it was a trade that sent him clear across the continent. Then in mid-March, it was the NHL season virtually stopping on a dime.
 
He still is highly regarded by San Jose players and fans, alike. Many remember Dillon final interview at SAP Center, which ended in tears.
 
“You guys didn’t see how smoky it was in the room, at the time,” Dillon jokingly said.
 
To nobody’s surprise, Dillon seemed to become an instant hit in the Capitals’ dressing room, his stall strategically assigned between two cornerstone players.
 
“I was right between Ovi (Alexander Ovechkin) and Johnny (John) Carlson, so, it was pretty cool to be part of that opportunity," Dillon said. "On the ice it was also a perfect fit for my kind of game, being able to skate, move pucks and play my physical brand of hockey. I think it was pretty seamless, and a lot of the guys made me feel comfortable.”
 
Whether he does or does not ever play for the Sharks again, San Jose certainly made an impression on Dillon since he arrived in 2014.
 
”It’s not just somewhere that you work," Dillon said. "It’s not just somewhere you move to for hockey. It becomes your home, your family. Your teammates, it becomes second nature.”

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For now, it’s a mix of understanding and frustration for Dillon and so many NHL players, who only had about a dozen games left in their regular seasons before chasing the Stanley Cup.
 
“Everybody had something to play for,” Dillon said. “But when something like this happens, first and foremost you’re wanting everybody to be healthy and safe.”