Washington Capitals Prospect Report – January, 2022: Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, Shane Gersich And Joe Snively Continue Strong Play

Posted on February 2, 2022 by Jon Sorensen


Welcome to the fourth installment of NoVa Caps’ Washington Capitals Monthly Prospects Report for the 2021-2022 season. This report summarizes activities for each of the Capitals’ prospects for the month of January, 2022. 

Format
The report is categorized by the leagues/regions in which each prospect plays in the following order:

  • AHL (Hershey Bears)
  • CHL (WHL/OHL/QMJHL)
  • NCAA/USHL/ECHL
  • EUROPE (SWEDEN/SWISS LEAGUE)
  • KHL (MHL/KHL)

Previous Monthly Prospect Reports for 2021-22 Season
October
November
December

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

AHL/HERSHEY BEARS

January was a busy month for the Hershey Bears with the team playing 13 games in the month. The chocolate and white managed the busy schedule, garnering points in nine of the 13 games while posting a 7-4-1-1 record.

The Bears sit third in the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Atlantic Division with a points percentage of .603. They have the same points percentage as second place Springfield, but the Thunderbirds have more regulation wins. For the season, Hershey has amassed 47 points and hold a record of 21-13-3-2.

Offensively, the Bears were led by Axel Jonsson-Fjallby. The Swedish winger tallied a team-high 15 points in January. Leading scorer Joe Snively had another big month. The Herndon, Virginia native was on fire once again in January, accumulating 14 points. Joining Snively and Jonsson-Fjallby with double-digit points were Garrett Pilon and Shane Gersich, who both totaled 11 points in the month.

The Hershey blue line got a boost from an improving Tobias Geisser, who enjoyed the best month of his AHL career. Lucas Johansen and Dylan McIlrath continued their steady play. In goal, Pheonix Copley won four times and made some stellar saves.

ALEX ALEXEYEV (LD/RD) – 22 – Drafted 2018 (First Round, 31st overall)
The Russian defender had his most productive offensive month of the season. Alexeyev assisted on five Hershey goals in the month to run his season point total to nine. He snapped a six-game scoreless drought with a pair of assists at Syracuse on January 7. A five-game scoreless streak followed.

Alexeyev broke that stretch with the secondary assist on Axel Jonsson-Fjallby’s first period power play goal against the Hartford Wolfpack on January 22. He had two assists the next night against those same Wolfpack, but was out of position on Hartford’s game-winning goal late in the third period. Alexeyev got caught on the ice for too long of a shift and drifted too high. He left the game against Bridgeport on January 29 with an upper body injury.

TRENDING: SAME

KODY CLARK (RW) – 22 – Drafted 2018 (Second Round, 47th overall)
It was a disappointing month for Clark. The third-year winger played in nine games in January and failed to record a point. He was also a minus five for the month.

Clark had a strong December, but seemed to have lost his way a bit in the new year. He is being outplayed by players who are on AHL contracts and needs to increase his hunger level.

TRENDING: DOWN

PHEONIX COPLEY (G) – 29 – Undrafted
Copley has emerged as Hershey’s number one goalie, winning four of his seven starts in January. One of those defeats came in a shootout and the Bears scored a single goal in the another.

Copley turned aside 23 shots in earning his second shutout of the season against Hartford on January 22. The clean sheet was the netminder’s 11th as a Bear, placing him in a tie with Vitek Vanecek for sixth on the Hershey all-time shutout list.

On January 25, the veteran made 11 first period saves against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Bears trailed 2-0 after one, but it could have been worse if not for Copley. Hershey rallied for a 6-2 win.

In his final start of the month on January 29 against Bridgeport, Copley was nothing short of stellar. He stopped Cole Bardreau on a two-on-one breakaway by sliding out to get his glove on Bardreau’s shot, keeping the game scoreless three minutes and 24 seconds into the game. Copley came up big again later in the period. Thomas Hickey found Chris Terry on the back door. Copley stopped Terry’s attempt with the back of his left skate. Eddie Wittchow then cleared the loose puck with his stick. With 3:33 remaining in regulation, the netminder came across to deny Andy Andreoff with a stretching right pad save. Copley then got his left toe on the rebound attempt before Mason Morelli swept the puck out. He was called upon one more time in regulation to keep the game tied. Arnaud Durandeau found space amidst three Hershey players and wristed from in close. Copley stopped the shot with a left pad save. The Bears won the game in overtime and Copley was deservedly named the game’s number one star.

For the season, Copley is 7-2-2-2 with a 2.50 GAA and a .906 save percentage.

TRENDING: UP

ZACH FUCALE (G) – 26 – Drafted 2013 (Second Round, 36th overall – Montreal)
Fucale is struggling to find his form in Hershey. He is winless in his last three starts, after winning his first two starts in January. Fucale has given up three or more goals in nine of his last 10 starts. The Laval, Quebec native has posted a save percentage of above .900 once in his last eight appearances.

He has had a hard time holding onto shots and controlling rebounds. Against Toronto on January 15, he left a soft rebound off a Chad Krys shot in the second period. Alex Steeves scored off the rebound to tie the game at two. Fucale then dropped a shot 30 seconds into the third period that Josh Ho-Sang swept in to give Toronto a lead.

With Pheonix Copley playing well, Fucale is not getting as many starts and that limits his chances to regain his form. Fucale has played well in his appearances in the NHL and needs to find that level to help the Bears going forward.

TRENDING: DOWN

TOBIAS GEISSER (LD) – 22- Drafted 2017 (Fourth Round, 120th overall)
The Swiss born defenseman saw his responsibilities increase as the month went along. His ice time increased due to a combination of improved play and necessity. With the exception of the January 23 game with Hartford, Geisser’s played strong defensively throughout the month. He has improved his positioning and he makes better decisions.

January was the best offensive month of Geisser’s AHL career. Geisser recorded the first two-point game of his AHL career with two helpers against Bridgeport on January 12. The second of those was a backhanded feed to Joe Snively that sent the game to overtime. Geisser was the third star of the game.

Geisser would pot his second career goal on January 15th against the Toronto Marlies.

The Stans, Switzerland native was a plus eight for the month to improve his season rating from a minus four to a plus four.

TRENDING: UP

SHANE GERSICH (C/LW) – 25 – Drafted 2014 (Fifth Round, 134th overall)
Gersich found his goal scoring touch in January. Entering the month with three markers, the North Dakota product potted eight goals to kick start his 2022. He recorded his first multi-goal game of the season against Bridgeport on January 2. The Chaska, Minnesota native opened the scoring in the first period when he put home a rebound from a Drake Rymsha shot.

Gersich then decided the game in overtime. He stole the puck just inside the defensive blue line and chipped the puck ahead. Gersich broke into the offensive end and slid his shot through the five-hole of Bridgeport goalie Ken Appleby for the winning score.

He registered another two-goal game six days later and tallied the game-winning goal once again. Gersich opened the scoring in the first period with a wrist shot that beat Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goalie Alex D’Orio.

He then sealed the victory when he knocked home his own rebound in the third period.

Gersich would score yet again on December 12 against the Bridgeport Islanders. This time it was shorthanded, his second shorty of the season.

Gersich also added three assists in the January. The Minnesotan was a constant presence in the Hershey lineup, playing in all 13 games in the month. He has 11 goals and 11 points on the season and is fifth on the team in scoring.

TRENDING: UP

LUCAS JOHANSEN (LD) – 24 – Drafted 2016 (First Round, 28th overall)
January was Johansen’s most productive offensive month. He had seven points on the season when 2021 ended and totaled six points in the opening month of 2022. All six of the blue liner’s points were assists. He now has three goals and 10 helpers on the season.

Johansen had his worst game of the season defensively at Syracuse on January 7 when he was on the ice for three Crunch goals. He also had two costly turnovers at Lehigh Valley on January 30. The Vancouver, British Columbia native got bodied off the puck in the corner. The mistake led directly to Cal O’Reilly’s shorthanded goal in the first period. Then, his clearing attempt was intercepted by Jackson Cates at the blue line along the right boards and the Phantoms scored the game-winning goal in the immediate aftermath.

In the same game, Johansen had two assists, including the primary helper on Mike Vecchione’s third period tally. It was a bit of good and a bit of bad for Johansen in the game. Overall, Johansen holds the best plus/minus among Hershey defensemen with a plus 16.

TRENDING: SAME

AXEL JONSSON-FJALLBY (LW) – 23 –  Drafted 2016 (Fifth Round, 147th overall)
The Swedish winger was on fire in January. Jonsson-Fjallby ended the month on a five-game point streak, scoring seven points in that span. The streak started on Teddy Bear Toss night on January 22. Jonsson-Fjallby triggered the avalanche of stuffed animals with a first power play goal.

He then added two more markers in the third to become the first player to record a hat trick in a Teddy Bear Toss game.

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby (13) would complete the hat trick at 13:06 of the final frame. The goal was setup by a beautiful stretch pass from Garrett Pilon. On one night, the Swede made it rain stuffed animals and hats.

The Stockholm, Sweden native racked up a team-high 15 points in January. Jonsson-Fjallby had five multi-point games in the month. He netted his first shorthanded goal on a breakaway in the first period against Toronto on January 15.

Axel’s first goal of the month came on a gift from Phantoms’ netminder on January 5.

Jonsson-Fjallby’s four game-winning goals are the most on the team. He is tied for second on Hershey in scoring with 28 points, as well as in goals with 13. Additionally, the Swede is tied for second on the team in power play goals with four. His 15 assists are tied for the third most on the team.

TRENDING: UP

MICHAEL KEMPNY (LD) – 31 – Undrafted
Kempny was recalled to Washington on January 20. Prior to being recalled, Kempny was providing steady defense for the Bears, but was still struggling to find his game on occaision.

Kempny has an assistt and is a -1 in seven games with the Capitals. He had no goals and seven assists in 24 games with the Bears. Kempny was placed on the Capitals COVID protocol list on January 28.

TRENDING: SAME

BECK MALENSTYN (LW/RW) – 23 – Drafted 2016 (Fifth Round, 145th overall)
Malenstyn continues to struggle to find his offensive game. The winger did not record a point in 10 games played in January and has just four points in 28 games this season. What is more surprising is that Malenstyn is a team worst minus nine.

He has always been a responsible two-way player and his struggles at even strength are unexpected. The Delta, British Columbia native is still a quality penalty killer and brings a physical presence to the team. However, the Bears need Malenstyn to improve his game at five-on-five and the team needs more offense out of him.

For the season, Malenstyn had a goal in 12 games with the Capitals and two goals and two assists and a -9 in 28 games played with the Bears.

TRENDING – DOWN

DYLAN MCILRATH (RD) – 29 – Drafted 2010 (First Round, 10th overall – New York Rangers)
McIlrath has been the steadiest presence on the blue line for Hershey this season. The only two games he has missed were when he was suspended. The Winnipeg, Manitoba native has given head coach Scott Allen a veteran that he can count on night in and night out.

McIlrath is a constant on the penalty kill and always brings a physical presence. Offensively, he equaled his season point total by chipping in with four points. The veteran defender tallied the first goal of the game against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on January 9. He wristed a shot from the right point through traffic and in with 4:26 left in the first.

McIlrath recorded his first two-point game as a Bear on January 25 versus the Penguins. He had the secondary assist on goals by Garrett Pilon and Marcus Vela in the second period. McIlrath is a plus 12 on the season, the second-best rating among Hershey defensemen.

TRENDING: UP

BOBBY NARDELLA (LD) – 25 – Undrafted
After a strong December, Nardella’s January was marred by injury. The Notre Dame product injured his leg after taking a hit from Syracuse’s Gabriel Dumont in the second period on January 7. Nardella would miss the rest of the month. He was scoreless in the three games he did play.

TRENDING: SAME

GARRETT PILON (RW) – 23 – Drafted 2016 (Third Round, 87th overall)
Pilon provided the Bears with another productive month in January. His first goal of the month came against the Bridgeport Islanders on January 2.

Pilon registered the game-winning goal against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on January 9. It was his first game-winner of the season.

Pilon scored his 12th of the season on January 15 against the Toronto Marlies. He would take the puck from well inside the Bears end, split the Marlies defense and dish to Jonsson-Fjallby who would give it back for the finish.

Pilon dished out three assists versus Hartford on January 22, including the primary assist on Axel Jonsson-Fjallby’s hat trick goal in the third period. It was his first three assist game since November 27, 2019, against Providence.

The son of former NHL defenseman Rich Pilon leads Hershey with five power play goals and tied for second on the team in scoring with 28 points. Pilon is also tied for second on the Bears with 13 goals and sits in a tie for third in assists with 15.

The Mineola, New York native potted five goals in the month and also recorded six helpers.

TRENDING: UP

BRIAN PINHO (RW) – 26 – Drafted 2013 (Sixth Round, 174th overall)
The North Andover, Massachusetts native finally returned to the lineup on January 9 after missing 22 games due to injury. It took Pinho a little time to get going and he was held off of the scoresheet in his first two games back.

The Providence College product tallied shorthanded late in the first period against Bridgeport on January 12 for his first goal of the season.

Pinho picked up his first shorthanded assist of the season in his next game. He started a play that resulted in a shorthanded marker by Axel Jonsson-Fjallbby in the first period against Toronto on January 15.

Pinho netted his second goal of the season on January 22 against Hartford. He wristed a low shot past Keith Kinkaid late in the first.

During the second period of that game, Pinho took a shot off of the ear and left the ice bloodied. He did not return to the contest and then missed the next two games.

Pinho reentered the lineup on January 29 and skated in the last two Hershey games of the month. He finished the month with two goals and two assists.

TRENDING: UP

MIKE SGARBOSSA (C) – 29 – Undrafted
Sgarbossa was re-assigned to the Bears in time for their game with the Bridgeport Islanders on January 29. It was the pivot’s first game in Chocolate Town since November 21.

Unfortunately for the Campbellville, Ontario native, he would not finish the contest. Sgarbossa was checked in the boards late in the second period and left holding his right shoulder.

He did not return to action and then missed Hershey’s game at Lehigh Valley the following day. The veteran center played in three games with the Washington Capitals in January, registering an assist against the New Jersey Devils on January 2. Sgarbossa was on the Washington taxi squad for the majority of the month.

TRENDING: SAME

HUNTER SHEPARD (G) – 26 – Undrafted
The Minnesota-Duluth alum saw action in a single game for the Bears in January, but made that one game count. He turned aside all 20 of the shots he faced in a 3-0 Hershey triumph over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on January 8.

His best save came with 7:55 remaining in the third period. Alex Nylander skated in from the right circle and tried to get behind Shepard and tuck a shot into the net. The netminder dove back and smothered the puck with his glove.

Shepard spent much of the month on the Washington Capitals taxi squad.

TRENDING – UP

JOE SNIVELY (LW) – 25 – Undrafted
January was another strong month for Snively. The Herndon, Virginia native recorded a point in 10 of the 11 games he played. Snively amassed 14 points in the month, split evenly with seven goals and seven assists.

The winger posted a two-goal game against Lehigh Valley on January 5. He opened the scoring 17 seconds into the game when a one-timer, beating Lehigh Valley goalie Pat Nagle.

Then, after Hershey blew a 3-0 lead, Snively knocked in a loose puck for the overtime winner.

Snively recorded his 11th goal of the season on January 12 again at the Bridgeport Islanders.

He recorded a three-point game on January 22 versus Hartford. Snively then added an empty net, shorthanded tally to seal the win.

Snively leads the Bears in goals with 15, shorthanded goals with three, assists with 23, power play points with 11 and points with 38. He is also a team best plus 22 for the season.

The Virginian is tied for fifth in the AHL in scoring and is in a tie for seventh in the league in assists. He is also tied for second in the AHL in shorthanded goals.

In his final game of the month on January 25, Snively weaved some shorthanded magic against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. With the Bears up 3-2, Snively stole the puck from Felix Robert on the left wing. The Yale University alum burst into the offensive zone on a breakaway. He beat Penguin netminder through the five-hole to give Hershey an insurance goal.

Snively is currently in the midst of a 14-game home scoring streak, tied with Alexandre Giroux for the longest on record at the Giant Center.

TRENDING: UP

RILEY SUTTER (C) – 22 – Drafted 2018 (Third Round, 93rd overall)
It was another lackluster month from Sutter. The third-year center had a single assist to bring his season point total to four. With a high rate of roster turnover, Sutter has had the opportunity to carve out a bigger role, but has been unable to do so.

Sutter remains a fourth line player, while Drake Rymsha and Marcus Vela (both on AHL deals) have moved ahead of him on the depth chart.The Calgary, Alberta native is at a crossroads. He needs to figure out what type of player he is and fully commit to that role. Otherwise, Sutter is going to get lost in the shuffle.

TRENDING – DOWN

MIKE VECCHIONE (C) – 28 – Undrafted
The Union College product had three goals coming into January. Vecchione scored double that total in the opening month of 2022. The Saugus, Massachusetts native netted six goals during January.

He tallied the overtime game winner on the power play on January 29 against Bridgeport when he lasered a shot from the left circle over the blocker.

Vecchione followed that up by scoring both Hershey goals in a 3-2 loss at Lehigh Valley on January 30. He has nine power play assists, tops on the Bears. His 16 assists are the second most on the team.

Vecchione sits fourth on the team scoring list with 25 points. He is averaging a point-per-game as he has 25 points in 25 games.

TRENDING: UP

CHL (WHL/OHL/QMJHL)

GARIN BJORKLUND (G) – 19 – Drafted 2020 (Sixth-Round, 179th Overall)
The Medicine Hat Tigers were cleared to resume team activities on January 10 after being put on pause by the WHL, alongside 13 other teams on December 7 due to COVID.

Bjorklund turned aside 19 of the 22 shots he faced for his fifth win of the season on January 12. The net minder said it was nice for the Tigers to comeback after not playing in over a week. “It was nice for us to go out there and get the first goal and the boys were excited to play and it was nice to get the win,” Bjorklund said.

Both teams were coming off a stretch without games due to different COVID-19 pauses, as the Tigers last played on Jan. 2 while the Wheat Kings hadn’t played since Dec. 30 entering Wednesday night’s contest

Red Deer torched Bjorklund and the Tigers for three goals on their first seven shots of the game on January 16, before facing Langkow in relief of Bjorklund, who was making his 23rd start of the season.

Bjorklund was pulled with eight minutes left in regulation, stopping 23 of the 28 shots he faced in his last start of the month against Calgary.

The season continues to be a struggle for the Tigers and Bjorklund. Bjorklund went 2-4 in seven starts in January. He gave up 30 goals on 177 shots for a .855 monthly save percentage. For the season Bjorklund is 6-17-0, with a 3.96 GAA and a .881 save percentage.

TRENDING: DOWN

HAAKON HANELT (F) – 18 – Drafted 2021 (Fifth-Round, 151st Overall)
The team announced on November 19 that Hanelt required surgery and would be out several months. As of the end of January, Hanelt remains with the team but no workouts have been reported as of yet.

TRENDING: SAME

MARTIN HAS – (RHD) – 20 – Drafted 2019 (Fifth-Round, 153rd Overall)
The QMJHL extended their holiday/COVID-19 pause until the second week of January. Players reported to teams on January 14. The League’s regular season schedule was planned to return  the week of January 17, with postponed games to be rescheduled at a later date.

The return of activities initially planned for the week of January 17 was pushed back to February 1. The circuit is still working to replace the games postponed so far, while the primary objective remains to play all 68 regular season games.

Has played no games in January. His last game was in December 12th. For the season Has has played in just 21 games. He has five goals and three assists. Once again he is desperate for playing time.

TRENDING: SAME

BEAR HUGHES – (20) – Drafted 2020 (Fifth-Round, 148th Overall)
A relatively quiet month for Hughes, compared to previous months, but still a good month. His first goal came on January 14.

Hughes’ second and final goal of the month came on January 23.

Hughes recorded two goals and four assists in nine games played in January. For the season, Hughes has 12 goals and 23 assists in 34 games played for Spokane. He’s shot the puck 77 times for a 15.6% shooting percentage.

TRENDING: SAME

VINCENT IORIO (RHD) – 19 – Drafted 2021 (Second-Round, 55th Overall)
Iorio scored his fourth goal of the season on January 15 against the Edmonton Oil Kings.

Iorio scored two power-play goals and added three assists against the Regina Pats on January 28. In doing so, Iorio recorded his first career five-point night, helping Brandon overcome 2-0, 3-1, and 4-2 deficits on route to their 19th win of the season.

Iorio got the Wheat Kings on the score board 4:02 into the second period with a shot from the point that found its way through Regina goalie Matthew Kieper’s glove.

But just 18 seconds later Regina scored to restore their two-goal lead at 3-1. Brandon drew back within a goal 9:31 into the period when Iorio scored another power-play goal with a shot from the high slot past Kieper’s blocker.

“He was real good tonight and had to play lots of minutes,” Brandon head coach Don MacGillivray said. “I think without Mason in there, (Chad Nychuk) and Vinny play a little bit more. He did a real good job on the power play. He shot the puck twice from the top and both shots found their way in. I thought he got back for pucks, he moved the puck, he got to his net, he made the right plays and made the game easier for his teammates.”

Iorio added an empty net goal for his 7th tally of the season on January 30th against Saskatoon.

Iorio has stepped up his game since returning from the Team Canada selection camp in December. For the month of January, he potted four goals and two assists in just five games played during the COVID-shortened month.

TRENDING: UP

DRU KREBS (LHD) – 18 – Drafted 2021 (Sixth-Round, 176th Overall)
The Tigers were cleared to resume team activities January 10 after being put on pause by the WHL alongside 13 other teams on December 7.

Krebs picked up the assist on the Tiger’s game-winner in their first game back on December 12 against Brandon. He recorded a goal on January 15

Krebs had a goal and two assists in nine games played in January. He has recorded two goals and seven assists in 37 games played. He’s shot the puck 56 times for a 3.5% shooting percentage.

TRENDING: SAME

HENDRIX LAPIERRE (C) – 19 – Drafted 2020 (First-Round, 22nd overall)
The QMJHL extended their holiday/COVID-19 pause until the second week of January. Players reported to teams on January 14. The League’s regular season schedule was planned to resume  the week of January 17, with postponed games to be rescheduled at a later date.

The return of activities initially planned for the week of January 17 will instead take place on February 1. The circuit is still working to replace the games postponed so far, while the primary objective remains to play all 68 regular season games.

Lapierre played no games in January. He has five goals and 13 assists in just 11 games played so far this season. Once again Lapierre needs to find games. He has played in a total of 57 games since the start of the 2019-20 season.

TRENDING: SAME

NCAA/USHL/ECHL

CHASE CLARK (G) – 19 – Drafted 2021 (Sixth-Round, 183rd Overall)
Clark has dealt with injuries and numerous scratches so far this season. He played in no games in January. For the season, Clark is 4-2-1-0 with a 2.51 GAA and a .915 save percentage. He’s show signs of decent work when he has played. Hopefully more games and playing time is on the horizon at Quinnipiac this fall.

TRENDING: SAME

MITCHELL GIBSON (G) – 22 – Drafted 2018 (Fourth-Round, 124th overall)
Gibson has begun to pick up his game, as we expected. After missing nearly 18 months of hockey during the COVID break, Gibson started slow this season but is now showing signs of his old self. He went 5-2-1 in January, giving up 17 goals on 205 shots for a .917 save percentage.

For the season, Gibson is 9-6-1 with a 2.17 GAA and a .911 save percentage. He is now ranked 32nd in the NCAA in save percentage and 16th in the NCAA in goals against average.

TRENDING: UP

BRENT JOHNSON (RHD) – 18 – Drafted 2021 (Third Round, 80th Overall)
Johnson continues to see mostly scratches, which isnt too uncommon for a freshman on a powerhouse hockey team like Nort Dakota. For the month of January, Johnson saw action in two games. For the season Johnson has an assist in 10 games played. Hopefully more playing time awaits Johnson in the near future and this fall.

TRENDING: SAME

JOAQUIM LEMAY (LHD) – 19 – Drafted 2021 (Fourth Round, 114th Overall)
Joaquim “Jo” Lemay continued his point streak into the new year, scoring goals in each of the team’s first two games, with the overtime game winner on January 1 in a 2-1 victory and both a goal and an assist in a 4-3 loss on January 7.

The goals in those two games extended his point streak to seven games. But the streak ended in his next game – January 8.

For January, he had two goals and four assists in nine games. Overall, he has five goals and 19 assists in 29 games. He has played on both the first and second defensive pairings and serves as an alternate Captain.

TRENDING: UP

BENTON MAASS (RHD) – 23 – Drafted 2017 (Sixth-Round, 182nd Overall)
Maass continues to hold down the right side the Minnesota States’ third defensive pair. He had six assists in eight games played in January for the nation’s top ranked team (25-5-0).

For the season, Mass has two goals and nine assists in 28 games played, but he has never really been an offensive defenseman. It will be interesting to see if the Capitals look to give him a shot this fall on the right side in Hershey this fall. The Capitals rights to Maass expire this summer.

TRENDING: UP

EUROPE (SWEDEN/SWISS LEAGUE)

DAMIEN RIAT (F) – 24 – Drafted 2016 (Fourth-Round, 117th Overall)
Riat and a number of his teammates contracted COVID in late December, causing a break for full quarantine. “Although my symptoms were really mild, it’s still physically hard to come back from Covid-19,” said Riat.

“The quarantine arrived at the right time, rather than in mid-January, in the middle of the championship,” confirms Damien Riat. “Above all, it made it possible to cut the negative phase in which we were. Seeing the family, celebrating Christmas and having a break was also good for everyone. ”

Riat scored three goals and recorded two assists during the month of January. He had an assist on January 14 in a 4-3 victory. He had a goal in a 4-3 win on January 21. He had an especially productive day on January 23, with two goals and one assist.

Riat started off January playing on the second line but was moved up to the first line on January 21 where he remained for the rest of the month.

Overall, for the season, he has scored 7 goals and has recorded 9 assists. The question remains, will he report to Hershey when the Swiss season concludes?

TRENDING: SAME

OSKAR MAGNUSSON (C/W) – 19 – 2020 Draft (Seventh Round, 211th Overall)
Magnusson continued his season with AIK in the Hockey Allsvenskan (Second Highest League in Sweden). He played in three of the team’s five games this month, missing the games of January 26 and January 28 due to illness.

He scored a first period goal for AIK in a 2-1 loss on January 19 and scored a goal in a 3-1 loss on January 22.

He was on the third line for two games but promoted to the second line for the game of January 22. Thus, he had two goals in January.

His overall statistics are four goals and four assists in 24 games.

TRENDING: UP

KHL (VHL/KHL)

BOGDAN TRINEYEV (F) – 19 – DRAFTED 2020 (Fouth-Round, 117th Overall)
Trineyev played with MHK Dynamo during the month of January. By the end of the month, he was centering the second line and had also been given an “A” for Alternate Captain.

Trineyev appeared in ten games, scoring a total of two goals and recording seven assists. He scored his two goals on January 25 in a game where MHK won 2-1.

Second goal

Trineyev had three games where he recorded two assists: January 16, January 21, and January 29. He has now just been called up to Moscow Dynamo in the KHL.

Overall for the season, his stats with MHK Dynamo are 2 goals and 13 assists in 18 games.

For Moscow Dynamo, his overall statistics are that he played in 11 games with no goals or assists. He has not appeared in any recent games with Moscow Dynamo but participated in an outdoor practice with the team.

TRENDING: UP

Connor McMichael, Aliaksei Protas, Brett Leason And Martin Fehervary

Where are Connor McMichael, Aliaksei Protas, Brett Leason and Martin Fehervary? – We’ve graduated them from our formal prospect pool. Should they return to Hershey we will re-introduce the players to our monthly reports.

The following graphic is an updated running prospect roster for the Washington Capitals: [Click to enlarge]

By NoVa Caps Prospect 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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9 Responses to Washington Capitals Prospect Report – January, 2022: Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, Shane Gersich And Joe Snively Continue Strong Play

  1. Anonymous says:
    February 2, 2022 at 1:38 pm

    Excellent report as always, folks!

    Reply
  2. Brianna says:
    February 2, 2022 at 10:16 pm

    I am hoping Hugo Has gets playing time so I can see him play in Hershey next season by the way today is Hugo Has birthday

    Reply
  3. Brianna says:
    February 2, 2022 at 10:22 pm

    Sorry about the repeat I am using my phone to type this

    Reply
  4. Brianna says:
    February 2, 2022 at 10:22 pm

    Also Hugo is my favorite capitals prospect

    Reply
  5. redLitYogi says:
    February 2, 2022 at 10:55 pm

    wow, Hendrix has some tough luck, doesn’t he? Not sure why Fjallby is not up on the big club at this point, he can’t possibly be worse than all the regulars.

    Reply
    • Jon Sorensen says:
      February 2, 2022 at 11:11 pm

      It’s incredible, the amount of quarantine time (70 days last season) and postponed games Hendrix has endured. He just needs games, and I’ve been saying that for two seasons now.

      Reply

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