The Washington Capitals made a minor roster move that could mean they are close to being fully healthy for the first time since Opening Night.
Thursday afternoon, the team sent Mike Sgarbossa back to the American Hockey League’s Hershey Bears. Sgarbossa briefly replaced Hendrix Lapierre in the lineup and appeared in two games during his NHL stint.
With Sgarbossa gone, a roster spot is opened up, meaning Jakob Chychrun could be nearing a return from injured reserve. The defenseman has been out of the lineup since suffering an upper-body injury on October 29 against the New York Rangers. At practice, Chychrun has been skating in a light blue, non-contact jersey.
The Capitals play back-to-back games Friday and Saturday, facing the Pittsburgh Penguins at home before flying to Missouri for a tilt against the St. Louis Blues.
Matt Roy, who had been out since suffering an injury during the first game of the season, made his grand return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Nashville Predators. Vincent Iorio, who was called up to give the team defense depth, was sent back to Hershey before puck drop. Dylan McIlrath sat out as a healthy scratch.
Here’s the full press release from the Capitals:
Capitals Loan Mike Sgarbossa to Hershey
Forward has appeared in two games with Washington this season
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have loaned forward Mike Sgarbossa to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick announced today.
Sgarbossa, 32, has appeared in two games with the Capitals this season. Sgarbossa, who is in his seventh season with Hershey, has recorded nine points (1g, 8a) in seven games with the Bears in 2024-25. Sgarbossa’s eight assists rank second on Hershey and are tied for the seventh most in the AHL.
The 6’0”, 192-pound center recorded seven points (4g, 3a) in 25 games with the Capitals in 2023-24, setting an NHL single-season career high in goals and tying his career high in points (2016-17: 2g-5a–7p in 29 GP). Sgarbossa also appeared in 44 games with Hershey, where he registered 43 points (7g, 36a) and ranked first on the Bears in points-per-game (0.98).
Sgarbossa recorded 58 points (21g, 37a) in 60 regular-season games with Hershey in 2022-23, leading the Bears in assists, points and power-play assists (16). Sgarbossa’s 58 points marked his highest single season point total since 2018-19 (65p in 75 GP), his first season with the Bears, while his 37 assists marked a career high. In 269 games with Hershey, Sgarbossa has recorded 246 points (87g, 159a).
The Campbellville, Ontario native has appeared in 44 games with the Capitals since the 2019-20 season, recording 13 points (6g, 7a) and a +6 plus-minus rating. In 92 career NHL games with the Capitals, Florida Panthers, Anaheim Ducks and Colorado Avalanche, Sgarbossa has recorded 23 points (8g, 15a). Sgarbossa has recorded 445 points (159g, 286a) in 581 career AHL games with the Bears, Manitoba Moose, San Diego Gulls, Springfield Thunderbirds, Lake Erie Monsters and Norfolk Admirals.
