The Washington Capitals placed six players on waivers yesterday as part of their training camp cuts as the 5 p.m. Monday’s deadline to submit final rosters is just two days away. All six cleared this afternoon, so they will report to the Hershey Bears. Goaltender Mitchell Gibson was also returned to Hershey.
#Caps loan Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Joe Snively, Michael Sgarbossa, Alex Limoges, Dylan McIlrath, Hunter Shepard and Mitchell Gibson to the Hershey Bears (AHL).
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) October 7, 2023
On Friday, the Caps placed Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Alex Limoges, Michael Sgarbossa, Dylan McIlrath, Joe Snively and goaltender Hunter Shepard on waivers for purposes of loan to the Hershey Bears.
Aube-Kubel is the most intriguing addition to waivers as he was expected to be a fourth line winger for the Caps. However, it looks like Matthew Phillips has taken his place on the bottom six.
Limoges played in the last preseason game against the Columbus Blue Jackets and was a plus-1. The Winchester, Va., native led the Manitoba Moose with 54 points (20 goals, 34 assists) last season and will be in the top six in Hershey.
It is quite surprising that no one claimed Shepard, as he backstopped the Bears to their 12th Calder Cup. So this is a big sigh of relief for Bears fans.
McIlrath, Snively and Sgarbossa appeared in at least one preseason game with Washington and were critical parts to Hershey’s core.
The Capitals’ first waiver additions came on Oct. 1, where they placed Chase Priskie and Riley Sutter on the waiver wire. Both players cleared and were called back up to play in the preseason tilt against Columbus.
By Jacob Cheris
Relieved to hear.
Hershey is STACKED
I’m so relieved to hear that Hunter Shepard is going back to play for the Hershey Bears. We’re looking for a lucky 13th Calder Cup!
I am surprised that no one has been picked up on waivers and that the Caps haven’t picked anyone up either. But I’m not hearing much about anyone being picked up by any team. Am I right? Teams right now aren’t picking players off the waiver wire? Activity is down from previous years?
Wonder how many teams are, like the Caps, up against the cap and can’t really afford to pick anyone up? Not surprised that no one took a flyer on anyone the Caps waived as none of then have any real track record in the NHL except NAK and he is a 4th liner and most teams already have plenty of 4th liners. Shepard is still a project as has NO game experience in regular season NHL. Wonder if the Caps were not so up against the cap they would not take a flyer on Bellows?
Yeah, I think a lot of teams are like the Caps in that they have heavy long term contracts they are trying to run out and have a backlog of prospects they want to bring up. So why pick up someone elses 15th or 16th forward when you have your own you are trying to bring up. Not worth claiming one to put on NHL roster.
And yes Jon, the Bears are stacked again this year. Some good players will have to go to SC.
Jets have put Axel Jonsson-Fjällby on waivers.
I saw this. Several other ex-Caps names that came up as well.
On the flip side Brett Leason has had a great camp with Anaheim. He was their leading goal getter in the preseason. Saw him score in game last week against LA. I still don’t know where i would put him on this roster. He probably could be 4RW instead of NAK but that spot went to Protas. Right now we have a lot of RW depth.