Capitals Recall Johansen, Re-assign Alexeyev To Taxi Squad

The Washington Capitals announced prior to their game against the Detroit Red Wings on Friday (7:30 PM ET, NBC Sports Washington in-market, ESPN+ out-of-market) that the team has recalled defenseman Lucas Johansen from the taxi squad and re-assigned defenseman Alexander Alexeyev to the taxi squad.

Both were recalled from the AHL’s Hershey Bears on Monday with defensemen Nick Jensen and Martin Fehervary in COVID-19 protocol.

Alexeyev made his NHL debut in the Capitals’ 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators on Wednesday, earning a hit and two penalty minutes in 10:35 worth of ice-time.

Johansen, 24, has recorded seven points (3g, 4a) and a team-high +14 plus/minus rating in 22 games with Hershey this season. The Vancouver, British Columbia native is on pace to record 23 points this season, which would mark his highest single-season total since 2017-18 (6g-21a-27p in 74 games played). In 155 career games with Hershey, Johansen has recorded 52 points (12g, 40a). Johansen was selected with the Capitals’ first-round pick, 28th overall, in the 2016 NHL Draft.

Johansen has yet to make his NHL debut but could in Detroit.

Alexeyev, the Capitals’ first-round pick, 31st overall, in the 2018 NHL Draft, has recorded four points (1g, 3a) in 24 games with Hershey this season. Along with Kempny, Alexeyev is one of two skaters to play in all 24 of Hershey’s games this season. Alexeyev began the 2020-21 season on loan to Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). The St. Petersburg, Russia native appeared in 55 of Salavat Yulaev’s 60 regular season games, tied for the most among the team’s defensemen. Alexeyev’s 16 points (8g, 8a) ranked second among Salavat Yulaev defensemen and his 17:52 time on ice per game ranked third. Alexeyev was named the KHL’s Rookie of the Month for January after recording seven points (4g, 3a) and a +6 plus/minus rating in 11 games. Additionally, Alexeyev recorded one assist and led the team with 23 blocked shots in nine playoff games. Alexeyev finished the 2020-21 season with Hershey, recording nine points (2g, 7a) in 12 games, ranking tied for third on the team in plus/minus (11) and fifth in points per game (0.75).

By Harrison Brown