Photo: NHL via Getty Images
The Hershey Bears announced on Monday afternoon the signing of Potomac, Maryland native Sam Anas to a one year deal. The former Washington Little Caps product has spent the last six seasons in the AHL with Iowa, Utica and Springfield, following his graduation from Quinnipiac in 2016.
Last season Anas, 29, recorded 64 points (20g, 44a) in 75 games to lead the Springfield Thunderbirds in scoring. Anas was also awarded the Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award as the AHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of sportsmanship, determination, and dedication to hockey for the 2021-22 season..
Anas primarily plays center but also plays right wing and played all of last season at right wing for the Thunderbirds. Considering the Capitals and Bears depth at center, Anas will likely begin the season on the right wing.
The Bears are fairly deep on the right side as well, but the Capitals and Bears could conceivably lose a player or players due to waivers at the end of training camp. The Anas signing assures there will be solid scoring potential on the right side of the lineup.
Anas has also been a consistent scorer on the power play, and will be a much-needed addition to the Bears man-advantage, which struggled mightily down the stretch last season.
The Bears still need help on the left wing.
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The Hershey Bears announced today that the club has signed forward Sam Anas to an American Hockey League contract for the 2022-23 season. The announcement was made by Hershey vice president of hockey operations Bryan Helmer.
Anas, 29, has been one of the AHL’s top players in recent years. Last year, the native of Potomac, Maryland collected 64 points (20g, 44a) in 75 games to lead the Springfield Thunderbirds in scoring. In addition to serving as the club leader in assists and points, he posted a team-best 20 power play assists and also led the club with three shootout goals. His 64 points were the most by a Springfield player since the T-Birds joined the AHL in 2016.
The 5’8″, 157-pound winger served as an alternate captain for Springfield last season and helped the Thunderbirds to an appearance in the Calder Cup Finals. He notched 15 points (4g, 11a) in 18 postseason games for Springfield, striking for four multi-point games in the playoffs. He was named the recipient of the league’s Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award as the AHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of sportsmanship, determination, and dedication to hockey.
In the shortened 2020-21 season, Anas collected 23 points (4g, 19a) in 23 games for the Utica Comets while also spending time on the St. Louis Blues’ taxi squad.
Anas was the AHL’s scoring champion in the 2019-20 season with the Iowa Wild. He collected 70 points (20g, 50a) in just 63 games for Iowa, earning AHL First All-Star Team honors. He also posted a 61-point campaign with the Wild in 2017-18, tallying a career-best 26 goals.
In his AHL career, Anas has appeared in 357 games, striking for 284 points (96g, 188a) and only 56 penalty minutes. He’s an impressive 17-for-33 all-time in shootouts, good for a 51.5% success rate. He’s also posted 22 points (5g, 17a) in 29 Calder Cup Playoff games.
Anas enjoyed a three-year standout career at Quinnipiac University from 2013-16. The All-American registered 132 points (69g, 63a) in 121 games, and helped the Bobcats to a 2016 conference championship. He led Quinnipiac in scoring in all three of his seasons with the club.
Anas is a product of the Washington Little Caps and Team Maryland programs. He participated in the Washington Capitals 2013 Development Camp and was teammates with Capitals forward and former Bear Joe Snively at Landon School. He and Snively helped the Landon Bears to an undefeated 25-0-1 season and a Mid-Atlantic Prep Hockey League title in 2011, and Anas was named the league’s player of the year, striking for 72 points (46g, 26a).
Anas’ collegiate coach and former Bears and Capitals coach Reid Cashman tweeted comments regarding today’s signing of Anas.
Your PP just went up 10 percentage points and your locker room just got better. Sam is a great man.
— Reid Cashman (@ReidCashman) August 15, 2022
By Jon Sorensen
He had a great year with Springfield last season. Hasn’t yet made the jump.
Great player for hershey. Only negative I can see is his size….5’8 and 157 and well he is 29 so probably a career AHLer unless the Caps lose to many players because they cant get them through waivers.
Sounds like he needs to spend the off seasons in the weight room…
He signed a hershey contract (no a caps contract) so he isn’t eligible for callup. But as Cashman and Wendy Marco said in tweets above, Sam is a good man for the room, will be a good mentor, and help the PP. He is small, but he can light it up!
The other Potomac native to play in the NHL??? Jeff Halpern. But he left DMV earlier than Sam. I do love seeing locals in the Washington system!
A good signing for Hershey. He has shown he is a solid scorer regardless of his size at the AHL level.
Just an idea, but signing Shane Gersich may be something to consider for Hershey on the left wing. He can play a variety of roles, good locker room presence, and will help the young players. I don’t think he meets the veteran criteria.
I agree with your take on Gersich. The ball is in his court, so he is probably exploring all options, but I have to imagines Caps and or Bears would be up for him returning.