The Capitals didn’t need long to see why Jack St. Ivany drew their interest on waivers.
Less than a week after Washington claimed the defenseman from Winnipeg, St. Ivany turned in another sharp night in Nashville, setting up both of rookie Cole Hutson’s goals in a 4-3 win over the Predators. It was his second straight game with two assists, and the timing could not have been better for a team riding a three-game winning streak.
“He’s been unbelievable,” Hutson said after the game. “He’s able to kill plays quick and make us transition quick…”
Washington’s decision to go after St. Ivany came with a few options on the table.
The club was short a defenseman after Vincent Desharnais had his appendix removed, and the front office chose not to recall Justin Holl from Hershey again - despite Holl scoring two goals in two games while Matt Roy was on injured reserve - or give 22 year-old prospect Ryan Chesley his first NHL look. Instead, the Caps grabbed St.
Ivany, and the early returns have been strong.
Head coach Spencer Carbery already had some familiarity with St. Ivany from his time in Hershey, while the defenseman had also played with Wilkes-Barre in the AHL. If the partnership with Hutson keeps rolling, Washington’s blue-line depth only gets stronger, and that matters for a roster that already looks deep.
That depth could become a real weapon for general manager Chris Patrick if he wants to make a move before the March trade deadline. The Capitals currently have four right-handed defensemen on the roster or IR - Matt Roy, Desharnais, Timothy Liljegren, St.
Ivany and Dylan McIlrath - plus Holl and Chesley in Hershey. Once Desharnais comes back and Swedish defenseman Rasmus Sandin is fully recovered, Washington could have nine viable defensemen available.
That kind of surplus gives Patrick more flexibility if he wants to deal from the back end.
For now, the Capitals just keep stacking wins and let the newest arrival keep fitting in. They’ll look to extend the streak Sunday afternoon against the Wild.
St. Ivany has looked excellent in two games, but the season is long and there’s plenty of time for things to level out.
Still, if he keeps playing this way, Washington will have every reason to feel good about the claim.
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Jack St. Ivany has already made a quick impression since Washington claimed him off waivers, giving the Capitals a useful reminder of what they tend to value most in the back end of a roster decision. In just two games, he has fit in cleanly and shown the sort of buy-in that coaches and front offices tend to appreciate when they are sorting out the edges of a lineup.
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