The Washington Capitals announced Friday morning that forward prospect Alexander Suzdalev has been re-assigned from the WHL Regina Pats to the AHL Hershey Bears. Suzdalev and the Pats were eliminated in the first round of the WHL playoffs last weekend.
Suzdalev led all WHL rookies in goals (38), assists (48), points (86), power play goals (17), and power play assists (19), and tied for first in points per-game (1.30) during the regular season. He is a lock for WHL Rookie of the year, which has yet to be announced.
Hat trick for Alexander Suzdalev! The first hatty of his CHL career. His 34th goal of the season. It took a while to confirm, but it counts. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/l6KZ1FnlNo
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) February 26, 2023
The Regina Pats named Suzdalev their Nick Pappas Rookie of the Year last Monday. (More here)
What has Suzdalev enjoyed about playing for the Pats so far this season?
“Everything so far,” Suzdalev told Robin Wark. “I fit in pretty good in the group and everyone is really nice. I love the city. The fans were really good the last couple games here and it was sure fun to play. Of course, when you have as good a player on your team as Connor Bedard [who is projected to be the first pick in the 2023 National Hockey League Draft], it sure makes it a lot more fun to play with him and go at it every practice.”
🚨 SUZY GOES BETWEEN THE LEGS 🚨
We are tied at 2!#LegendsInTheMaking | @Capitals | @TheWHL pic.twitter.com/CtaLxz9Ctk
— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) January 15, 2023
Suzdalev was chosen in the third round, 70th overall, by the Capitals in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. It just so happens to be the team he grew up rooting for.
“I was a huge Caps fan,” Suzdalev said. “I was loving Ovi [Alexander Ovechkin] and I was from a place in Siberia where Alexander Semin was from so that was my favourite player when I was little. … Really happy to be drafted by them. It couldn’t be any better almost.”
Suz-Your-Daddy!! Alexander Suzdalev pulls off The Michigan. His 29th goal of the season #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/kwh8qB2uRf
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) February 18, 2023
Suzdalev attended the Capitals’ development camp in July and Capitals rookie and training camps in September. “It didn’t feel real almost at the time,” he said. “In your first rookie camp, you learn a lot – taking from the good players.”
MORE FROM THE CAPITALS
The Washington Capitals have re-assigned forward Alexander Suzdalev from the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League (WHL) to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.
Suzdalev, the Capitals’ third-round choice, 70th overall, in the 2022 NHL Draft, recorded 86 points (38g, 48a) in 66 games with Regina this season. The 6’2″, 172-pound forward led WHL rookies in goals, assists and points and ranked tied for 11th among all skaters in scoring. Suzdalev was named the WHL Rookie of the Month for the months of December and February, the only player to earn the honor twice this season. Suzdalev added 10 points (7g, 3a) in seven playoff games with Regina, which ranked third on the team.
Suzdalev spent the 2021-22 season in Sweden, leading HV71’s junior team (Sweden-Jr.) in scoring with 51 points (15g, 36a) in 45 regular season games. The Khabarovsk, Russia native, who competes with Sweden internationally, also appeared in four games with HV71’s U18 team, where he recorded eight points (3g, 5a), and skated in five games with HV71 of HockeyAllsvenskan (Sweden-2). Additionally, Suzdalev won a gold medal with Team Sweden at the 2022 IIHF World U18 Championships, appearing in six games.
Hopefully he gets one of these last two regular season games. I don’t see him cracking playoff lineup.
Suz is a human highlight reel. Hopefully he gets a game before start of postseason
And so it begins . . .
The Pittsburgh Penguins fired general manager Ron Hextall, director of hockey operations Brian Burke and assistant general manager Chris Pryor on Friday after the club failed to reach the playoffs for the first time in 17 years. Pittsburgh’s longtime head coach Mike Sullivan will also assist during the transition, a sign the club has no intention on moving on from Sullivan, who signed a contract extension last fall that will run through the 2026-27 season.
I knew Regina would get eliminated. Yeah, they had the Dynamic Duo of Bedard and Suzdalev, but not a whole lot else, and their defense was atrocious. Get used to being the Show, Connor, if you get picked by CBus or Chicago. You should hope it’s Anaheim, cuz at least Gibson can bail you out. Or better yet Washington, so you and Suz can continue your Wonder Twins act.
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