The news is constantly on television at the Washington Capitals' practice facility, and like any workplace, there's no shortage of opinions.
"We're human beings, and people share different opinions and different political views," veteran team leader Brooks Orpik said. "It's no different than anybody else. People that are friends vote for different people."
Those differences were on public display the last week when two players said they would not join their teammates in visiting President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday to celebrate their Stanley Cup championship. Canadians Braden Holtby and Brett Connolly said they'd respectfully decline the invitation.
Several other players, including Russian captain Alex Ovechkin, Americans T.J. Oshie and John Carlson and American coach Todd Reirden have said they're going. A vast majority of the team that won the first NHL title in franchise history is expected to tour of the White House and meet Trump in the Oval Office in a private ceremony.
The Capitals are accepting of each other's differences of opinion on going to the White House and say this isn't a divisive issue and won't be a distraction.