The Washington Capitals have recalled defenseman Tyler Lewington from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today. 

This is Lewington’s first callup. The move was made to give the Capitals a seventh defenseman after Christian Djoos underwent a successful surgical procedure on his left thigh on Thursday. Djoos sustained the injury on December. 11 versus Detroit, and as a result, will be out indefinitely. Brooks Orpik has recently returned to skating workouts, but has yet to practice with the team.

FROM CAPITALS MEDIA RELEASE

Lewington, 24, has recorded six points (2g, 4a) in 26 games with Hershey this season and is one of two defensemen to play in every game. Additionally, the 6’2”, 200-pound defenseman has recorded 67 penalty minutes, which leads the Bears and ranks third in the AHL.

The Edmonton, Alb., native recorded 11 points (2g, 9a) in 71 games last season. Lewington ranked third in the AHL in penalty minutes (149) and third among Hershey defensemen in games played. Lewington is the only player in the AHL to rank in the top five in penalty minutes in each of the previous two seasons. In 211 career games with Hershey, Lewington has 40 points (11g, 29a) and 447 penalty minutes.

Lewington was drafted by the Capitals in the seventh round, 204th overall, in the 2013 NHL Draft after spending four seasons with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League (WHL).