The Washington Capitals announced on Monday afternoon that they have placed defenseman Christian Djoos, forward Liam O’Brien, and forward Michael Sgarbossa on waivers with the intention of assigning them to AHL Hershey. All three will have to clear in order to be sent to Hershey. Otherwise, it means that a different NHL team has claimed them.
Forward Shane Gersich was also returned to Hershey following yesterday’s callup.
The current roster after today’s moves:
Djoos, 24, posted a goal, 10 points, and a +9 rating in 45 games during the regular season. He missed 23 games in the middle of the year due to thigh surgery. When healthy, Djoos rotated with Jonas Seigenthaler on the third defensive pair for a majority of the time before the Capitals acquired Nick Jensen from the Detroit Red Wings on February 22. He was held to just a -3 rating in three games during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Djoos also played two games with the AHL’s Hershey Bears on a conditioning stint in February.
The Capitals selected Djoos with the 195th overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft. In 108 career NHL games (all with the Capitals), Djoos has recorded four goals, 24 points, and a +22 rating.
Djoos recorded an assist and a +5 rating in 22 Stanley Cup Playoff games during the Capitals’ run to the Stanley Cup in 2018.
He was awarded a one-year, $1.25 million contract by a neutral arbitrator on July 24.
This almost certainly means that Seigenthaler will start the season in the Capitals’ opening night lineup.
The fact that O’Brien and Sgarbossa were waived should not be a surprise as they are on two-way contracts.
The Capitals must turn in their 23-man roster for Wednesday night’s season opener at the defending Stanley Cup Champion St. Louis Blues (8 PM ET, NBCSN) by 5 PM ET on Tuesday. They currently meet that requirement but are $1.5 million over the NHL salary cap. They will have to resolve that soon.
By Harrison Brown
Hooray for Mike Sgarbossa, he made a fine showing with Caps in preseason. But probably won’t be waiver-claimed and it’s back to Hershey. Christian Djoos is mucho talented and will continue an NHL career, somewhere, if his health holds up. But bigger, stronger, meaner, nastier is the Game for NHL defenders these days, and the Caps have several like that who can also skate and score.
Twenty-five up, two gotta go. Who will it be?
The Caps may not have to make any additional moves by 5PM tomorrow. Kuzy is out, and Kempny will likely go to IR of some sort, making it 23 for at least a week. When Kuzy comes back, they will need to cut one more.
And Chandler Stephenson!
His roaring performance against CAR was, to me, a clear message from the Hockey Gods to the Caps’ coaching staff: Stephenson is a CENTER, not a winger. And he was a darned good center in the last game. He had a little bit of Backstrom in his game, a little bit of Claude Giroux. Hard on the puck, some slick passes. “Sees” the game well. Kills penalties.
Let Stephenson play pivot for the Caps a few regular-season games. If he scores two goals and goes +4, then there you have your Third Line center. If he stinks it up, Caps are deep at Center
Stephenson has had an excellent camp. His takeaway/giveaway ratio is 2:1, his P.K. work has been pretty good. I’d be shocked if they cut/waive him.
The tie against the Hurricanes was unacceptable this past Saturday nights home opener! Holtby withered in the third period. He should have made that save on the short side of the goal crease to give the Canes the win.
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