JustSports Photography/Hershey Bears

After the addition of a number of bottom-six forwards to their roster during the 2019 offseason, the Capitals found themselves with a logjam of players vying for a roster spot before, during, and even after training camp and heading into the regular season. Eventually, a number of players were waived to make space both in the lineup and on the salary cap, and sent to the team’s American Hockey League affiliate Hershey Bears. Among them was Travis Boyd, who has done his best to prove he belongs on an NHL roster.

Since clearing waivers and returning to the AHL, Boyd has been one of the most productive Hershey forwards, scoring four goals and recording two assists in just two games played, including two tallies and an assist in Sunday night’s game against the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins on two shots:

Travis Boyd starts the scoring for the Bears with a power play goal late in first period. Boyd has 3 goals on 3 shots since returning to Hershey. Matt Moulson added another power play goal for a 2-0 Bears lead at the first intermission. #HBH #DefendTheDen pic.twitter.com/zZiSKcMg8f

— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) October 13, 2019

Travis Boyd defines “patience” with this one. It’s his fourth goal on 4 shots since returning to Hershey. Boyd had two goals last night and has two so far tonight. Bears lead 3-0. #HBH #DefendTheDen pic.twitter.com/bp4CNW9SRR

— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) October 13, 2019

Boyd also scored twice on two shots in Saturday night’s game against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, including the overtime winner with just one second remaining in the extra frame:

The Bears tie it up with saucy passing, finished by Travis Boyd at 11:57 of the final frame. The tally was setup by sharp passing from Matt Mouslon and Mike Sgarbossa. 3-3 with 3:30 left in third period. pic.twitter.com/PQx0Yx1bs2

— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) October 13, 2019

Boyd has scored on ALL four of his four shots in the two games played thus far, and his two assists gives him six points in those two games. In addition, he has a plus-2 rating and two of his four tallies came on the power play. In 53 games played last season with the Capitals, Boyd recorded a career-high 20 points (five goals, 15 assists), averaging just 9:50 of ice time. With the additions of Garnet Hathaway, Brendan Leipsic, and Richard Panik, as well as the re-signing of Carl Hagelin, Boyd found himself the odd man out on the Washington depth chart, leading to his placement and subsequent clearing of waivers.

Whether Boyd will get another opportunity this season (the final of his contract) with the Capitals remains to be seen so early in the 2019-20 season. However, the 26-year old forward is doing his best through two games in the AHL to prove he deserves a chance at the NHL level after a promising 2018-19 season.

By Michael Fleetwood

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