Washington Capitals have re-assigned forward Beck Malenstyn and defenseman Christian Djoos to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.

The move precedes the return of Carl Hagelin, who is eligible to return from injured reserve starting Tuesday in San Jose. Nicklas Backstrom skated in Detroit on Saturday and is progressing. He has not been ruled out for returning in San Jose as well.

Malenstyn was called up and made his NHL debut on November 20 against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

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Malenstyn, 21, made his NHL debut on Nov. 20 against the New York Rangers and played three games for the Capitals. The 6’2”, 198-pound forward has recorded six points (3g, 3a) in 18 games with Hershey this season. Last season with the Bears, the White Rock, B.C., native recorded 16 points (7g, 9a) in his rookie AHL season and was named Hershey’s IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year. In 92 career games with Hershey, Malenstyn has recorded 22 points (10g, 12a). Prior to joining Hershey, Malenstyn won a WHL Championship in 2018 as a member of the Swift Current Broncos, recording 11 points (4g, 7a) in 26 playoff games. He was selected with the Capitals’ fifth round pick, 145^th overall, in the 2016 NHL Draft.

This season with Hershey, Djoos, 25, has recorded 11 points (1g, 10a) in 18 games and is tied for 12th among AHL defensemen in assists. The 6’0”, 180-pound defenseman played in 45 games with the Capitals last season, recording 10 points (1g, 9a). In 108 career NHL games, all with the Capitals, the Gothenburg, Sweden, native has recorded 24 points (4g, 20a). Djoos was selected by the Capitals in the seventh round, 195th overall, in the 2012 NHL Draft.