Washington Capitals Prospect Report – February, 2021: Connor McMichael And Garrett Pilon Get Tricky, Alex Alexeyev And Aliaksei Protas Head To Playoffs And Zach Fucale Is A Wall

Posted on March 1, 2021 by Jon Sorensen


Welcome to the sixth installment of NoVa Caps’ Washington Capitals Monthly Prospects Report for the 2020-2021 season. This report summarizes activities for each of the Capitals’ prospects for the month of February, 2021.  

Monthly Prospect Reports
September
October
November
December
January

[You can access all of our prospect news and analysis on our “Prospects” page located in the top menu]

AHL/HERSHEY BEARS

A 3-0 shutout of the Binghamton Devils on the final day of February allowed the Hershey Bears to finish the opening month of the American Hockey League (AHL) season with the most points in the North Division. The Bears completed the month with a lone regulation loss, to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on February 24, in eight games and ended with a 5-1-2 record.

Hershey has been especially good against Binghamton, defeating the Devils in all three of their contests. The Bears are 2-1 against their rivals Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Lehigh Valley has been the lone blemish as the Phantoms have defeated the Bears twice in overtime.

Hershey achieved the early season success despite a plethora of injuries on defense and a revolving goalie carousel. The chocolate and white have started three different goalies and dressed five different netminders. Pheoniox Copley, Ilya Samsonov and Zach Fucale have all won games in net and provided strong play.

Defensively, the Bears have had six blue liners miss games due to injury and even suited up forward Kale Kessy on the back end for a game. They finished a win at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with just four defensemen after losing Paul Ladue and Eddie Wittchow to injuries during the game.

The penalty kill is still a strength. The Bears have killed-off 24 of 28 power plays this season and have the fourth best penalty killing percentage in the AHL.

On the offensive end, Hershey has had a balanced attack with 20 players recording at least one point. Garrett Pilon, Connor McMichael, Mike Sgarbossa and captain Matt Moulson have led the way points wise.

KODY CLARK (RW) – 21 – Drafted 2018 (Second Round, 47th overall)
Slowed by injuries during his rookie season, Clark never got into a groove. He is making up for it during his second go-around. Clark scored the first goal of the season for Hershey. He went to the net and deflected a feed from Eddie Wittchow into the net.

He contributed an assist against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in his next game, but then went scoreless in his next five games.

The son of former NHL winger Wendall Clark broke out of his drought against Binghamton on February 26. He gave the Bears a 3-1 lead in the second period when he put a rebound in for his second goal of the season.

Later in the period, the puck deflected off his arm and went in for his second goal of the game. The goal gave Clark his first professional two goal game.

Clark netted three goals in February. That total matches his rookie season total.

TRENDING: UP

PHEONIX COPLEY (G) – 29 – Undrafted
Copley has been on a bit of a yo-yo between Hershey and the Washington taxi squad. The North Pole, Alaska native started the first two games of the season for the Bears. He was a hard luck loser in the season opener versus Lehigh Valley. He had a shutout until the last minute when Lehigh Valley tied it after a lost faceoff. Copley stopped four quality scoring chances in overtime before Lehigh Valley scored the game winner.

In his second start, Copley picked up his first win of the season. He made 22 saves in a 3-2 win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on February 11. He then went back to the Washington taxi squad and remained there before returning to Hershey for the February 27 game against Binghamton. He served as Zach Fucale’s backup for the game. He has 1.97 goals against average and a .920 save percentage on the season.

TRENDING: SAME

MARTIN FEHERVARY (LHD) – 21- Drafted 2018 (Second Round, 46th overall)
Fehervary started the season on the Washington Capitals taxi squad and sent to Hershey in time to play in their season opener on February 6. He skated in the first four games of the season. A left-handed defenseman, the Slovak has played on his off side, the right, thus far this season.

Fehervary has looked comfortable on the right and has seen time on the top pairing. He kills penalties and has seen some time on the power play. He has two assists thus far this season.

The Bratislava, Slovakia native is one of many Hershey defensemen to miss games because of injury. He was injured on February 17 in a game against Binghamton in Newark and missed the next three games with an upper body injury. Fehervary returned to action on February 27 against Binghamton.

TRENDING: SAME

ZACH FUCALE (G) – 25 – Drafted 2013 (Second-Round, 36th overall – Montreal)
Fucale played in one game for South Carolina in the ECHL before going to Washington for the Capitals training camp. He spent a good portion of the season on the Washington taxi squad until he was sent down to Hershey prior to their game on versus Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on February 20.

Fucale has shown no signs of rust. He turned away 34 of the 35 shots he faced in his first start and was particularly strong in the third period when the Bears were on their heels a bit. In his next start, Fucale stopped 22 shots and earned his first shutout as a Bear in a 3-0 Hershey triumph over Binghamton on February 27. The Laval, Quebec native again was strong in the third period, making 12 saves.

Overall, the netminder has saved 56 of the 57 shots he has seen for a save percentage of .982 and a goals against average of .50. Fucale has not enjoyed much success in the AHL in recent seasons and has not seen much action at this level. His strong play is a plus for the Bears and the Capitals.

TRENDING: UP

SHANE GERSICH (LW) – 24 – Drafted 2014 (Fifth-Round, 134th overall)
Gersich is off to a slow start offensively. He has just one assist in eight games, as his shot continues to be an issue. He creates scoring chances with his speed, but too often misses the net or shoots right at the goalie.

Despite his lack of scoring, the Chaska, Minnesota native still contributes in other ways. He is a key component of the Hershey penalty kill that is fourth in the AHL. He is not afraid to get down and block shots. He threw his body in front of a shot on the penalty kill at the end of the second part against Binghamton on February 27. Gersich has been excellent at attacking the puck on the back check, and creating turnovers. Gersich has also taken on a leadership role this season, having served as an alternate captain.

TRENDING: UP

LUCAS JOHANSEN (LHD) – 23 – Drafted 2016 (First-Round, 28th overall)
After suiting up for only nine games last season, Johansen was hoping for a healthier campaign this season. He played the first five games, dishing out two assists against Lehigh Valley on February 14. Those two assists matched his point total from last season. The native of Vancouver, British Columbia was seeing time in all situations and was a plus two. He was killing penalties and quarterbacking one of the power play units. Johansen was playing with more confidence and looked comfortable on the ice.

Unfortunately for Johansen, the injury bug struck again on February 20 in a game against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. As he was playing the puck in his own zone, Johansen took an elbow up high from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton winger Kyle Olson late in the first period. Olson received a one-game suspension from the AHL and Johansen has not played since.

TRENDING: SAME

AXEL JONSSON-FJALLBY (LW) – 22 – Drafted 2016 (Fifth-Round, 147th overall)
The Swedish winger is one of the team’s most effective penalty killers. He is a threat to score shorthanded every time he takes the ice and his speed causes issues for the opponent’s power play unit. Jonsson-Fjallby always seems to be in the right position on the kill and is good at breaking up passes. He has had several shorthanded opportunities, but has not converted on any of them as of yet.

The Stockholm, Sweden native has been a bit snake bitten offensively, but finally broke through with his first goal of the season against Binghamton on February 26. He took a stretch pass from Connor McMichael and fired his shot over the glove to give Hershey a 4-1 lead. The goal turned out to be the game-winner after Binghamton scored twice in the third period.

TRENDING: SAME

PAUL LADUE (RHD) – 28 – Drafted 2012 (Sixth-Round, 181st overall – Los Angeles)
Ladue has been limited by an injury. He got hurt in a game at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on February 11 and missed the next three games. The Grand Forks, North Dakota native returned on February 24 for a game at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and then played again on February 26 but was out for the game on February 27.

When he has been on the ice, Ladue has been effective. He has amassed three assists in four games. He assisted on Will Graber’s goal on at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on February 24 for his first point as a Bear. He then added two assists against Binghamton on February 26, picking up a helper on Axel Jonsson-Fjallby’s game winner and another on Brett Leason’s empty netter. The North Dakota University product quarterbacks the power play when in the lineup and also sees alot of on the penalty kill.

TRENDING: SAME

BRETT LEASON (RW) – 21 – Drafted 2019 (Second-Round, 56th overall)
After struggling through his rookie campaign, Leason looks like a completely different player thus far this season. He is playing with a lot more confidence than he did as a rookie. The Calgary, Alberta native has already equaled his goal total from last season, tallying three times in eight games.

Leason is being used as a penalty killer this season and has played more responsibly in his own end. He consistently makes good plays on the back check and blocks shots. His newly found complete game was on display against Binghamton on February 17. Leason scored his first goal of the season on a wrist shot from the right circle early in the second period.

With the game tied at one in the third period, the second-year winger went down and blocked a shot to keep the game even. He played a physical game and his line was a threat every time they were on the ice.

Leason would score two goals against the Binghamton Devils on February 26. The first, a nice drive around the corner for the score.

Leason would add an empty net goal at the end of the game.

TRENDING: UP

BECK MALENSTYN (LW) – 22 – Drafted 2016 (Fifth-Round, 145th overall)
Malenstyn underwent a successful surgery to repair an Achilles tendon in early December. Malenstyn sustained his injury while training in Vancouver. Based on the nature of this injury, Malenstyn is expected to miss 6-8 months.

TRENDING: SAME

CONNOR MCMICHAEL (C/RW) – 20 – Drafted 2019 (First-Round, 25th overall)
The highly touted prospect has lived up to the hype. McMichael leads Hershey with two-game winning goals and is tied for the team lead in goals with four. He is tied for second on the team in scoring with six points.

McMichael tallied his first career goal on February 11 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Ajax, Ontario native put home a rebound on the power play in the third period. The goal would be the difference in a 3-2 Hershey win.

McMichael recorded his first career professional hat trick against on February 21. The first goal came on the power play. He made a nice defensive play on the second, stealing the puck at the defensive blue line. He skated in and wristed a shot top shelf. McMichael secured the hat trick with an empty netter.

His second:

His third:

With all the good, there have been some mistakes from the rookie. He lost a faceoff cleanly late in the third period in the season opener against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on February 6 and Wyatt Wylie scored to tie the game with 44 seconds left (Bears lost in overtime). Then on February 11, his turnover led to a rush by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton that ended in a Tim Schaller goal. He atoned for the mistake by scoring the winning goal. McMichael makes mistakes, but he learns quickly from them. He does not repeat mistakes. That is a good sign.

TRENDING: UP

GARRETT PILON (C) – 22 – Drafted 2016 (Third-Round, 87th overall)
The son of former NHL defenseman Rich Pilon continues to make strides as a professional player. After playing center in the season opener, Pilon moved to the right wing on the top line with Mike Sgarbossa and Joe Snively. The switch has paid dividends. Pilon tops the Hershey scoring list with eight points and is tied for the third in the AHL in assists with seven. All eight of his points have come since switching to right wing.

His lone goal of the season was of the highlight reel variety against Binghamton on February 26. He pulled the puck between his legs and roofed a backhand into the net.

Pilon recorded points in six of the eight games of the month and seven of his last eight. He dished out two assists on February 27 against Binghamton. His second period shot was tipped home by Matt Moulson on the power play. In the third, he made a nice pass from below the goal line to Sgarbossa in front and Sgarbossa did not miss.

TRENDING: UP

DAMIEN RIAT (RW) -23- DRAFTED 2016 (Fourth-Round 117th overall)
A late arrival to Hershey’s training camp, Riat was a welcomed addition to the forward corps. He started the season playing for Geneve Servette in Switzerland and posted seven goals and 11 assists there.

The Swiss-born winger has suited up for all eight games. Riat picked up his first AHL point against Lehigh Valley on February 14 when he dished out the primary assist on Rob O’Gara’s goal. He netted his first AHL goal three days later against Binghamton. He burst through the defense in the third period and beat the Binghamton goalie low to the left side to give the Bears a 2-1 advantage that they would not relinquish. The goal also gave Riat his first two-point game, as he assisted on Brett Leason’s tying goal in the second period.

He was scoreless in his last four games of the month, but he still contributes in other ways and gets his shots. Riat has a physical side to his game and is not afraid to deliver a hit.

TRENDING: UP

ILYA SAMSONOV (G) -24- DRAFTED 2015 (First Round 22nd overall)
Samsonov was sent to Hershey to get in some game action after missing several weeks due to a bout with COVID-19. The Russian netminder played in four games in February for Hershey.

The Bears did not do him any favors in his first game. Hershey consistently gave up high danger scoring chances and head coach Spencer Carbery said in his postgame press conference that the team left Samsonov out to dry by being too casual with the puck. Samsonov made 24 saves in a 5-4 overtime loss to Lehigh Valley.

It was better for the Russian in his next game. He turned away 23 of the 24 shots he faced in a 2-1 Hershey win over Binghamton on February 17. Thirteen of those saves came in the third period. He also got on the scoresheet by recoding a secondary assist on Damien Riat’s game-winning goal.

The netminder was not particularly strong in his next start at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on February 24, but the team in front of him was not strong either. It was an all-around poor effort for Hershey. Samsonov surrendered four goals on just 19 shots in the game. He rebounded by stopping 25 shots in a 6-3 win in Newark over Binghamton on February 26. He saved a penalty shot with the Bears on the power play in the first period of that game.

TRENDING: SAME

CAMERON SCHILLING (LHD) -32- Undrafted
Schilling missed the first two games of the season due to an injury, but has been a steady presence in the lineup since. The Carmel, Indiana native provides a number one defenseman to Hershey.

He netted a goal and added a helper in his first game on February 14. His goal came when he jumped into the play down low and put in a feed from Joe Snively.

He leads Hershey defensemen with four points and is tied for the most assists from a defenseman with three.

Schilling plays in all situations. He is the first defenseman over the boards on the penalty. Also, he has gotten a lot of power play time with Paul Ladue and Lucas Johansen missing time due to injury. Schilling also activates and joins the offensive rush more than he did during his first tenure with the Bears.

His offensive game has developed over the past few seasons. Schilling has also been a plus player in five of the six games he has played. He is a plus five on the season, tops among Hershey defensemen and tied for the best rating on the team. Schilling has worn an A as an alternate captain this season and is the clear cut leader of the defensive corps.

TRENDING: UP

MIKE SGARBOSSA – (C) -28- Undrafted
Sgarbossa started the season in the NHL with the Washington Capitals. He posted two assists in five games with the Capitals. The Campbellville, Ontario native rejoined the Bears for their second game of the season and immediately jumped into the top center role. In his first game, Sgarbossa recorded a goal and assist at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on February 11.

His power play tally tied the game in the second period and he assisted on Connor McMichael’s game-winning, power play goal in the third. He potted three more goals in the month and is tied for the team lead in goals with four.

Sgarbossa is tied for second on the team in scoring with McMichael and Matt Moulson. He has be an even or a plus player in all seven games that he has played and is tied for the best plus/minus rating on the team with a plus five rating. Sgarbossa is part of the leadership corps on the team and has served as an alternate captain.

TRENDING: UP

JOE SNIVELY (LW) -25- Undrafted
The Herndon, Virginia native skates on Hershey’s top line with center Mike Sgarbossa and right winger Garrett Pilon. After failing to record a point in his first two games of the season, Snively posted a two-point game against Lehigh Valley on February 14. He put the Bears in front 16 seconds into the game, firing home his shot from the left circle.

He later assisted on Cameron Schilling’s second period goal. The Yale product was held off the scoresheet in his next two games, but ended the month by recording a point in his last three games of the month. He assisted on Mike Sgarbossa’s second period goal at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on February 24 and then added a helper in Newark against Binghamton on February 26.

Snively started the scoring for Hershey against Binghamton on February 27 by sliding his shot in during a mad scramble in front. The first period goal would be all the Bears would need in a 3-0 victory. Snively is also tied for the team lead in plus/minus with a plus five.

TRENDING: UP

RILEY SUTTER (RW) -21- Drafted 2018 (Third-Round, 93rd overall)
Sutter’s sophomore campaign has been filled with some good and some bad aspects. He is scoreless in five games played and is a team worst minus three. The son of former NHL forward Ron Sutter also missed three games with an injury.

However, he has been a big contributor on Hershey’s strong penalty kill and sees a lot of time on that unit. Still, the team needs more production from him offensively and need to see more consistent play defensively at even strength.

TRENDING: DOWN

CHL (WHL/OHL/QMJHL)

GARIN BJORKLUND (G) – 18 – Drafted 2020 (Sixth-Round, 179th overall)
For the 2020-21 season, Garin Bjorklund played in two games for the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League (WHL), with a Goals Against Average of 2.97 and a Save Percentage of .889. Those game took place on February 26 and 27 and he was the winning goalie in each of those games.

Note: the Medicine Hat Tigers had not started their season until February 26. He also has played in four games for the Grand Prairie Storm of the Alberta Junior Hockey League  for the 2020-21 season (AJHL) where he had a Goals Against Average of 2.73 and Save Percentage of .936.  All four of his games with the Grand Prairie Storm took place in November 2021.

TRENDING: SAME

MARTIN HUGO HAS (RHD) – 19 – Drafted 2019 (Fifth-Round, 153rd overall)
Hugo Has returned to idling following his appearance in the 2021 World Juniors Tournament.  It’s likely he will report to the Guelph Storm if and when the CHL/OHL begin their season.

TRENDING: SAME

HENDRIX LAPIERRE (C) – 18 – Drafted 2020 (First-Round, 22nd overall)
Hendrix Lapierre has had an on and off season since he was drafted by the Capitals in the first round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. On and off with regards to playing time, that is. The 19-year old started the 2020-21 season in the QMJHL, then participated in Team Canada’s World Junior’s camp in December, which was followed up with the Washington Capitals training camp in January. Unfortunately, each step along the way has also required a lengthy quarantine period.

Lapierre is currently playing games inside a bubble in Quebec for Chicoutimi of the QMJHL. The team plays four or five games in six or seven days, then has a week off for rest and practice. Unfortunately, the last team they played had COVID cases surface, resulting in yet another quarantine period for Lapierre, his 5th quarantine (63 days) since last November.

On the ice this season, Lapierre has four goals and 14 assists in 11 games. He says he just needs more games right now. He’s played in just 30 games over the last two seasons.

“It’s going ok, I think. I’ve had some good games, I’ve had some tougher ones. I think the main thing right now, for me, is just to start playing games on a regular basis. I’m kinda playing games and then stopping for a month, then playing two games and then stopping again. So I think for me, I only played 18 games last year, my draft year, for me it’s just about playing games right now. Get back in that rhythm of playing,” said Lapierre on the Showbound Podcast. 

TRENDING: SAME

KHL

ALEX ALEXEYEV – (LHD) – 21 – Drafted 2018 (First-Round, 31st overall)
The honors keep coming for Washington Capitals’ defensive prospect Alex Alexeyev. After winning KHL Rookie of the Week twice in January, he was chosen as one of the KHL’s ‘Players of the Month’ for January. In addition, he represented Russia in the Third Stage of the Euro Hockey Tour that was played in Sweden from February 11 through 14.

Each month, the KHL announces ‘Players of the Month’ in each of the following categories: Best Goalie, Best Defenseman, Best Forward, and Best Rookie.  For the month of January, Alexeyev won the award for Best Rookie.

Alexeyev talked about being named Player of the Week twice along with being named Rookie of the month in a recent interview for the KHL website.

“I was very pleased! Thanks to my partners for helping to achieve this goal. To be honest, I was surprised when I found out, because nothing like this has ever happened in my career.”

Alexeyev also discussed his impressive improvement during the month January.

“I don’t even know … To be honest, I noticed that throughout my entire hockey career there was always some kind of breakthrough after the New Year. Probably, I started to get used to it, I began to take the game more on myself, into my own hands. It started to work out, I felt confident, after which everything went by itself.”

From February 11-14, he was a member of team representing Russia at the European World Tour Games that took place in Sweden. He played on the top defensive pairing for both theirfirst game against Finland (February 11) and their second game against Sweden *February 13) but did not play at all in their third and final game that was against the Czech Republic (February 14).  In both the games, he was -1 in Plus/Minus but was not perceived to be at fault. He scored no goals and recorded no assists. There was disappointment that he did not show the same level of offense in the tournament that he has shown for Salavat Yulaev Ufa, his KHL team. Team Russia won all three games of the tournament.

Alexeyev had a good regular-season campaign. Offensively, he recorded eight goals and eight assists in 55 games and became arguably one of Salavat’s best defenders by the end of the regular season. He also spent time playing on the right side for a good portion of the season, which will be very valuable to him and the Capitals down the line.

TRENDING: UP

ALIAKSEI PROTAS (C) – 20 – Drafted 2019 (Third-Round, 91st overall)
Protas scored his 8th goal of the season on February 7 against Sochi. He was moved up from the 4th line to center the second line in this game.

Protas would record a goal and the overtime game winner on February 18 against Jokerit.

The game-winner

Dinamo Minsk head coach had high praise for Protas following the game.

“As we said earlier at press conferences, this season is the first for Alexei in adult hockey, and he plays very well and confidently. Knows what he needs to do both in defense and attack, and also rarely makes mistakes. Acting alongside such masters as Rob Klinkhammer and Brandon Kozun, Alexey gets the opportunity to develop much faster and show his strengths: he can give a good pass, open up for the pass, be in the right place and complete the attack. In general, we are watching the process of becoming Protas as a player.”

Protas was named player of the game.

Protas added a goal and an assist on February 23 against Amur.

Dinamo Minsk officially made the playoffs on February 22 for the first time in the 2016/17 season. It is not clear if Protas will have time after the KHL season to return to the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL who begin play on March 12, but that will likely depend on how far Dinamo Minsk goes in the postseason.

TRENDING: UP

BOGDAN TRINEYEV (LW) -18- Drafted 2020 (Fourth-Round, 117th overall)
For the month of February, Trineyev played only at the MHL (Junior) level. He played in 12 games where he scored six goals and recorded five assists. He scored one goal and recorded 1 assist in the game of February 1 and two goals in the game on February 2.

Trineyev scored a goal and recorded an assist in the games on both February 14 and February 15, as well as on February 28.  His totals in the MHL for the year are 12 goals and 9 assists for 21 points overall in 29 games.  His shot percentage is 16.0%

Trineyev did not play in either the VHL or the KHL during February, although he was called to the VHL for the game of February 6 but did not play. At the VHL level this year so far, he has played in 22 games, scoring one goal and recording one assist for two points overall and is -3.

Trineyev has averaged 11.41 minutes in ice time per game.  He has played in three KHL games this season. His average ice time is 17.03 minutes per game.

His statistics at the VHL level this year were 22 games played, scoring one goal and recording one assist for two points and is -3. He has averaged 11.41 minutes in ice time per game.  

2/1/2021 goal:

2/2/2021 goal:

Trineyev’s power play goal on February 14 against Almaz.

February 15

TRENDING: UP

EUROPE (SWEDEN/SWISS LEAGUE)

TOBIAS GEISSER (LHD) – 21 – Drafted 2017 (Fourth-Round, 120th overall)
For the month of February, Geisser played in 10 games and scored one goal. He scored the team’s third goal in the team’s 7-2 against Davos on February 20.  For the year, he has played in 38 games, has scored three goals with ten assists and continues to anchor the left size of EVZ’s top defensive pairing.

TRENDING: SAME

OSKAR MAGNUSSON (C/RW) – 19 – Drafted 2020 (Seventh-Round, 211th overall)
During February, Magnusson played for Tyringe SoSS in the HockeyEttan (third tier Swedish League). In February he played six games, scoring two goals and recording three assists. He is generally on the team’s second line. On February 14, he scored a goal in their 5-3 win against the KRIF.

For the season thus far with Tyringe SoSS, he has played 22 games with them, scoring four goals and recording four assists. He has spent most of the season in Tyringe SoSS in the HockeyEttan where he could get more playing time. Prior to that, he had primarily played for the Malmo Redhawks at various levels until being lent to Tyringe SoSS.

Magnusson played with the Malmo Redhawks Under 20 Junior team for 12 games, scoring three goals with six assists. He played seven games with the Malmo Redhawks of the Swedish Elite League this season with no goals or assists.

TRENDING: SAME

SEBASTIAN WALFRIDSSON (LHD) -21- Drafted 2017 (Fifth-Round, 171st overall)
For the month of February, Walfridsson played in eight games scoring one goal and recording one assist.  He scored the team’s second goal in a 5-0 win against Skovde during third period on February 10.

Walfridsson also recorded an assist on Feb 12 against Huddinge in 4-1 win. He assisted on the team’s second goal. For the season Walfridsson has played in 38 games with 5 goals and 7 assists.

TRENDING: UP

BOBBY NARDELLA (LHD) – 24 – Undrafted
Nardella is said to have had his knee x-rayed with a magnetic camera on Wednesday, February 17 following Djurgården’s 3-1 win against HV71.

“Yes, we check that kind of thing. I have not received anything there so I think it should be calm. “Bengan” (team doctor Bengt Gustafsson) and “Schumi” (naprapath Christian Schumacher) usually write as soon as possible, but I have not actually received anything, says Robert Ohlsson, which means that Nardella also plays against Rögle.”

Nardella is Djurgården’s king of points and has scored 27 points (6 goals, 21 assists) in 42 games. He plays over 20 minutes on average and against HV71 he was up in 22:20 on the ice.

TRENDING: UP

KRISTIAN ROYKAS-MARTHINSEN (LW) -21- Drafted 2017 (Seventh-Round, 213th overall)
During February, he played in seven games and scored three goals for HC Dalen in HockeyEttan (third tier Swedish League).

For the 2020-21 season, he has played in 36 games, scored 14 goals and recorded 7 assists for 21 points. On February 3, he scored two goals in a 6-3 win against Huddinge IK. On February 10, he scored a goal in a 4-3 loss against IF Troja / Ljungby.

TRENDING: UP

NCAA/USHL

MITCHELL GIBSON (G) – 21 – Drafted 2018 (Fourth-Round, 124th overall)
Gibson remains idle, as Harvard’s hockey season was cancelled in its entirety. He has not played since the beginning of March, 2020.

TRENDING: SAME

BEAR HUGHES (C) – 19 – Drafted 2020 (Fifth-Round, 148th overall)
The Capitals 2020 draftee has been playing for the Fargo Force in the USHL for the 2020-21 season. For the month of February, he played in nine games where he scored four goals and recorded two assists for six points overall.

He scored goals in three consecutive games (Feb 13 against Omaha, Feb 19 against Sioux City Muskateers, and Feb 20 against Sioux City.

His overall statistics for the season which started in January are that he played in 16 games, with four goals and five assists.

TRENDING: SAME

BENTON MAASS (RHD) – 22 – Drafted 2017 (Sixth-Round, 182nd overall)
After a quiet January in whichsenior UNH defenseman Benton Maass tallied only 1 assist in 10 games, he picked up the pace in February with a goal and an assist in 4 games.  His shots on goal ticked up to an average of 2 per game.

In a 7-6 come from behind, overtime win against 20th-ranked UMass Lowell on February 6th, Maass set the game-tying play in motion.  As the highlight video shows, Maass raced to keep the puck in the offensive zone and carried it deep into the right corner.  He then sent it back to UNH’s leading goal-scorer Angus Crookshank (5th round pick, Ottawa Senators).  Crookshank made a pure goal-scorers play to tie the game.  In overtime, Crookshank scored his 4th goal of the game for the win.

In the February 12th game against 18th-ranked Northeastern, Maass snapped a wrist shot from the high slot past the goalie’s glove.  The 4-on-4 goal tied the game late in the second period.  It was Maass’ second goal of the pandemic-shortened season.  Northeastern stormed back to win 6-2.

Maass missed the last 2 games with an injury sustained during practice.

TRENDING: SAME

By NoVa Caps Prospect Analysis Team

About Jon Sorensen

Jon has been a Caps fan since day one, attending his first game at the Capital Centre in 1974. His interest in the Caps has grown over the decades and included time as a season ticket holder. He has been a journalist covering the team for 10+ years, primarily focusing on analysis, analytics and prospect development.
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1 Response to Washington Capitals Prospect Report – February, 2021: Connor McMichael And Garrett Pilon Get Tricky, Alex Alexeyev And Aliaksei Protas Head To Playoffs And Zach Fucale Is A Wall

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