Photo: NBC Sports Washington
The Washington Capitals have recalled defensemen Jonas Siegenthaler and Aaron Ness from the Hershey Bears, the team announced on Friday. The Capitals also announced defenseman John Carlson is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
Siegenthaler, the Capitals’ second-round draft choice in 2015, had an impressive training camp in September but the team’s roster was already in place. In four preseason games with the Capitals, the 21-year old defenseman posted seven blocked shots, 15 hits, and two takeaways while averaging 18:56 worth of ice time per game, including 1:46 of ice time per game on the penalty kill. This season in Hershey, Siegenthaler has tallied two assists and a -2 rating in 14 games after posting six goals, 12 points, and a -20 rating in 75 games last season. He will make his NHL regular season debut against the Blue Jackets tonight while Carlson, 28, will be out of the lineup.
Ness, 28, is coming back up to Washington after getting sent down to Hershey earlier this week. He never appeared in a game for the Capitals during his call-up but was brought up this time because defenseman Brooks Orpik is still recovering from a lower-body injury. Orpik, 38, has missed the past four games and was placed on long-term injured reserve by the Capitals. Ness has posted four assists and a -1 rating in 12 games with Hershey this season after recording four goals, 29 points, and a -6 rating in 55 games in the AHL a year ago. He also tallied an assist and a +2 rating in eight games with the Capitals last season. In this past preseason, Ness appeared in three games with Washington and posted two assists, eight blocked shots, and one hit while averaging 17:17 worth of ice time per game, including 1:15 on the power play per game and 1:05 on the penalty kill.
With Orpik placed on long-term injured reserve, he is required to miss at least 10 games. He will be eligible to return on November 21 against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Both Seigenthaler and Ness skated at MedStar Capitals Iceplex prior to the team’s morning skate.
Capitals Release
The Washington Capitals have recalled defensemen Aaron Ness and Jonas Siegenthaler from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.
Ness, 28, appeared in 12 games with Hershey this season and registered four assists. On Oct. 27 against Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, Ness, playing in his 459th career AHL game, recorded his 200th career AHL point (38g, 162a). In 180 career games with Hershey, the 5’10”, 189-pound defenseman has recorded 77 points (15g, 62a). Ness was drafted by the New York Islanders in the second round, 40th overall, in the 2008 NHL Draft and has recorded six points (1g, 5a) in 47 career NHL games with the New York Islanders and Washington.
Siegenthler, 21, played in 14 games with Hershey this season and registered two assists. The 6’3″, 230-pound defenseman played in his first season with the Hershey Bears last year. In 102 career games with the Bears, Siegenthaler has recorded 15 points (6g, 9a) and 85 penalty minutes.
Siegenthaler recorded his first career AHL goal on Oct. 15, 2017 against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The Zurich, Switzerland, native previously played for the ZSC Lions in the National League in Switzerland. In 115 career games in the National League, Siegenthaler recorded 18 points (4g, 14a) and 85 penalty minutes.
The Capitals selected Siegenthaler in the second round, 57th overall, in the 2015 NHL Draft.
By Harrison Brown
Siegenthaler has been very lackluster in Hershey this season, making a lot of stupid mistakes and turnovers. I’m a little surprised they took him up. Lewington has played better.
Agreed. I’m somewhat surprised he was called up. He had an impressive training camp, but has been very sub-par in Hershey this season.
Maybe this Siegenthaler call up will be a wake up for him to step his game up.
I agree his play in Hershey has taken a significant nose dive.
At this rate Wilson & Orpik will both be back for our game versus the Blackhawks.
Let’s hope Carlson gets back up and running soon.
Agreed, night and day for Siegenthaler. He even gave up on a play that led to a goal in Hershey. Hopefully, like you said, he wakes up.
Jonas has it in him. He was a lot better in Hershey last year and he did have a good training camp. Not sure why or how he got into the funk, but it’s been frustrating watching him in Hershey because he is a solid player and has potential and is very likable when you meet and talk to him. The penalties have been poor ones in particular…
A wake up call would be to send him down to SC. Not give him a promotion! What kind of incentive is that?
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