Caps’ Niskanen: ‘We’re enjoying the heck out of it right now’

Vegas Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault (81) shoots against Washington Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen (2) during the first period in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final, Monday, June 4, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Washington Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen speaks to the media, Sunday, June 3, 2018, in Arlington, Va. The Capitals will host the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final Monday night in Washington. (AP Photo/Bill Sikes)

AP Photo/Bill Sikes

Washington Capitals forward Devante Smith-Pelly, center, celebrates his goal against the Vegas Golden Knights with Matt Niskanen, left, and Chandler Stephenson, during the third period in Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final, Saturday, June 2, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Vegas Golden Knights left wing James Neal, top, and Washington Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen collide during the third period in Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals Wednesday, May 30, 2018, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Washington Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen stands on the ice during practice Tuesday, May 29, 2018, in Las Vegas. Game 2 of the Stanley Cup NHL hockey finals between the Capitals and the Vegas Golden Knights is scheduled for Wednesday. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Tampa Bay Lightning center Tyler Johnson (9) gets off a shot on Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (70) as defenseman Matt Niskanen (2) and center Evgeny Kuznetsov (92) looks for a rebound during the second period of Game 5 of the NHL Eastern Conference finals hockey playoff series Saturday, May 19, 2018, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) — Tampa Bay Lightning center Tyler Johnson (9) gets off a shot on Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (70) as defenseman Matt Niskanen (2) and center Evgeny Kuznetsov (92) looks for a rebound during the second period of Game 5 of the NHL Eastern Conference finals hockey playoff series Saturday, May 19, 2018, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) celebrates with defenseman Matt Niskanen (2) after Wilson scored against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period of Game 2 of the NHL Eastern Conference finals hockey playoff series Sunday, May 13, 2018, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

AP Photo/Chris O’Meara

Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (70) joins the celebration of with Evgeny Kuznetsov (92), Jakub Vrana (13), Alex Ovechkin, top center, and Matt Niskanen (2) Kuznetsovs' game-winning goal during the overtime period in Game 6 of an NHL second-round hockey playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Monday, May 7, 2018. The Capitals won the game 2-1 to take the series, four games to two. AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) — Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (70) joins the celebration of with Evgeny Kuznetsov (92), Jakub Vrana (13), Alex Ovechkin, top center, and Matt Niskanen (2) Kuznetsovs’ game-winning goal during the overtime period in Game 6 of an NHL second-round hockey playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Monday, May 7, 2018. The Capitals won the game 2-1 to take the series, four games to two. AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (AP/Gene J. Puskar)

Washington Capitals' Matt Niskanen (2) collides with Pittsburgh Penguins' Patric Hornqvist (72) during the first period in Game 4 of an NHL second-round hockey playoff series in Pittsburgh, Thursday, May 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) — Washington Capitals’ Matt Niskanen (2) collides with Pittsburgh Penguins’ Patric Hornqvist (72) during the first period in Game 4 of an NHL second-round hockey playoff series in Pittsburgh, Thursday, May 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Washington Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen (2) skates with the puck during the first period in Game 1 of an NHL second-round hockey playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals' Dmitry Orlov, left, of Russia, celebrates his goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets with teammate Matt Niskanen during the first period of Game 6 of an NHL first-round hockey playoff series Monday, April 23, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete) — Washington Capitals’ Dmitry Orlov, left, of Russia, celebrates his goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets with teammate Matt Niskanen during the first period of Game 6 of an NHL first-round hockey playoff series Monday, April 23, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson, left, celebrates with teammate defenseman Matt Niskanen after Niskanen's goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period in Game 3 of an NHL first-round hockey playoff series in Columbus, Ohio, Tuesday, April 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon) — Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson, left, celebrates with teammate defenseman Matt Niskanen after Niskanen’s goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period in Game 3 of an NHL first-round hockey playoff series in Columbus, Ohio, Tuesday, April 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)

Washington Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen (2) skates with the puck during the first period in Game 1 of an NHL first-round hockey playoff series against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Thursday, April 12, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Matt Niskanen on riding Metro to games, his turn with the Stanley Cup

WASHINGTON — Six days after the Washington Capitals’ victory parade down Constitution Ave., one of their players joined WTOP to talk about the ongoing celebration of the team’s first-ever Stanley Cup title.

“It feels pretty good,” defenseman Matt Niskanen told WTOP’s Joan Jones and Kyle Cooper of winning his first championship. “It was quite a ride this spring. The team played great; we finally did it. Everybody’s super excited and … wow, what a celebration.”

Niskanen, along with teammate T.J. Oshie, famously took Metro to Capital One Arena for Games 3 and 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, catching plenty of attention along the way.

“We’re just trying to avoid traffic and get to the rink a little easier, but it turned out to be kind of a cool thing,” Niskanen said. “Some fans noticed us and it turned into a bigger thing than we anticipated but it was a pretty fun way to get to the rink and the Metro’s getting some good press out of it.”

As is custom for Stanley Cup winners, each of the players gets his turn with the fabled trophy, and Niskanen has very specific plans for how he’ll spend his day with Lord Stanley’s Cup.

“I’m gonna bring it back to where I grew up in Virginia and Mountain Iron, Minnesota, and share it with whoever wants to see it for a few hours that morning and then do some celebrating up at my lake place,” Niskanen said.

Wait … you mean there’s more celebrating? Even after all the fun and frivolity in Georgetown?

“Luckily, I get a little bit of a break before that day comes,” Niskanen said. “I think that happens later in the summer so I’ll have some time to rest up before one last party.”

Niskanen added there is an end in sight for the ongoing celebration. After all, the preseason is only about three months away and the Capitals eventually have to start thinking about another Stanley Cup run.

“That would be ideal,” Niskanen said of the prospect of repeating as champions. “We’re excited for what we accomplished this spring, we’re enjoying the heck out of it right now but it’s important to remember there’s another season coming so I think guys will be getting prepared for that and … let’s do it again.”