The Washington Capitals are heading into the Olympic break with a reshuffled roster and a few key names sidelined.
Center Connor McMichael is officially week-to-week with an upper-body injury, according to head coach Spencer Carbery. He’s been placed on injured reserve and won’t be back until after the break. That’s a tough blow for a Capitals team trying to stay in the playoff hunt, especially considering McMichael had played in all 55 games this season before the injury.
While his goal production hasn’t quite matched last year’s breakout 26-goal, 57-point campaign, McMichael was quietly on pace to set a new career high in assists. He’s posted eight goals and 23 helpers so far, and has looked more comfortable back at his natural center position after spending much of last season on the wing.
This season is especially important for the 25-year-old, who’s in the final year of his bridge deal with a $2.1 million cap hit - which also happens to be his qualifying offer. With arbitration rights for the first time this summer, McMichael has a lot riding on the stretch run.
Getting healthy and finishing strong could go a long way toward securing a long-term deal.
To fill the gap, the Capitals recalled forward Bogdan Trineyev from AHL Hershey. This marks Trineyev’s third call-up of the season.
The 23-year-old has appeared in two NHL games so far and is still searching for his first point, but he’s shown promise in the minors. With nine goals and 12 assists in 32 games for the Bears, he’s already nearly matched his point total from last season - and he’s done it in 30 fewer games.
That production recently earned him a two-year extension, and now he’ll get another shot at NHL action. Either he or Sonny Milano is expected to slot into McMichael’s spot in the lineup against Carolina.
The injury list doesn’t stop there. Goaltender Charlie Lindgren has also been placed on IR after finishing Thursday’s shootout win over Detroit in visible discomfort.
He needed help getting off the ice after the game, and while there’s no official timetable for his return, the IR designation ensures he’ll be out through the Olympic break. Lindgren’s numbers this season haven’t been where the Capitals need them to be - a 3.37 goals-against average and .884 save percentage over 18 games - so the hope is that some rest and recovery might help him reset.
In response, Washington has recalled netminder Garin Bjorklund from Hershey. The 23-year-old has split his time between the AHL and ECHL South Carolina this season.
His numbers with Hershey - a 3.43 GAA and .879 save percentage - don’t jump off the page, but he’s been far more effective in the ECHL, posting a 2.37 GAA and .929 save percentage in seven games with the Stingrays. With Logan Thompson’s status for tonight still uncertain, Bjorklund will serve as the emergency backup if needed.
Meanwhile, defenseman Matt Roy is also on the mend. He’s been dealing with a lower-body injury and is currently listed as day-to-day.
The team moved him to IR as well, which opened up a roster spot to keep goaltender Clay Stevenson with the team after using their final 48-hour emergency exemption to bring him up on Thursday. Roy last played on Saturday, so if the Capitals backdated his IR placement, he could be eligible to return as soon as Tuesday when they face the Islanders.
All told, the Capitals made five roster moves in a matter of hours - a flurry that leaves them at the 23-man limit heading into tonight’s matchup. With injuries piling up and the playoff race tightening, Washington will need its depth players to step up and keep the team afloat until reinforcements return.