As we first reported yesterday, the Washington Capitals confirmed on Thursday that defensive prospect Alexander Alexeyev has been loaned to Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).
FROM CAPITALS MEDIA RELEASE
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have loaned defenseman Alexander Alexeyev to Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) to begin the 2020-21 season, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today. It is expected that the Capitals will recall Alexeyev to North America upon the commencement of the Capitals’ 2020-21 training camp.
The Capitals selected Alexeyev with their first-round pick, 31st overall, in the 2018 NHL Draft.
Alexeyev, 20, finished his first AHL season with 21 points (3g, 18a) in 58 games with the Hershey Bears. Alexeyev ranked third among Hershey defensemen and 12th among all AHL rookie defensemen in points. Additionally, his 18 points at even strength tied for sixth among all AHL rookie defensemen. The St. Petersburg, Russia, native led Hershey defensemen in games played and ranked third in plus/minus (8).
In the 2018-19 season, the 6’4”, 210-pound defenseman recorded 43 points (10g, 33a) in 49 games with the Red Deer Rebels in the Western Hockey League (WHL), ranking eighth among defensemen in points per game (0.88). In 135 career games with Red Deer, Alexeyev recorded 101 points (21g, 80a).
Alexeyev has represented Russia at the 2019 World Junior Championship, the 2016 Under-18 World Championship and the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial. Alexeyev recorded six points (2g, 4a) in seven games en route to winning the bronze medal at the 2019 World Junior Championship.
As we have noted in earlier posts, NHL teams are currently scrambling to find playing time for as many of their top prospects in order that they continue their development during the COVID-19 pause in North America. The KHL begins their season this week. Salat Yulaev, based in Ufa in the Republic of Bashkortostan, opens play on Thursday.
Other Loans To Date:
Aliaksei Protas – KHL (Dinamo Minsk) – The Capitals announced that Aliaksei Protas has been loaned to Dinamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Protas has played in four exhibition games so far, centering the fourth line in his last two games. His first regular season game with Dinamo is September 3.
Damien Riat – SNL (Geneve-Servette) – The Capitals confirmed various earlier reports that forward Damien Riat would return to the Swiss National League. Riat played for Geneve-Servette for three seasons from 2015-2018. Riat and Geneve-Servette had their first tune-up game on Saturday. Although Riat did not attend the Capitals return to play training camp last month, he did participate in the Swiss National teams training camp.
Tobias Geisser – SNL (EV-Zug) – The Capitals also confirmed that defenseman Tobias Geisser would start the 2020-21 season in the Swiss National League. Geisser transferred from Hershey to EV-Zug after the start of last season to find more playing time. It is expected that the Capitals will recall Geisser to North America when the organization’s 2020-21 training camps open.
Martin Fehervary – announced last week in an interview with Slovak media that he was considering two offers to play with local teems (Slovan Bratislava and Bratislava Capitals) prior to the NHL’s return to play in November. Fehervary did participate in the Capitals summer training camp and played in one postseason game before sustaining an upper body injury against the Islanders. Look for an announcement this week.
CURRENT START DATES FOR NORTH AMERICAN LEAGUES
AHL – The Board of Governors announced that the anticipated start of the 2020-21 regular season has been moved to no earlier than December 4, 2020, due to the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis.
OHL – The Ontario Hockey League announced that it is planning to return to play on December 1, 2020, subject to ensuring that the players, fans, staff and community are able to play and attend games safely.
WHL – The Western Hockey League announced that it is now scheduled to open its 2020-21 Regular Season on Friday, December 4, 2020.
By Jon Sorensen
