The Washington Capitals announced Sunday morning that they have recalled forward Hendrix LaPierre from the Hershey Bears. The Capitals also announced they have placed forward Nic Dowd on injured reserve (IR).
Lapierre was “made unavailable to the team” in Saturday night’s Bears game, signaling the eventual call-up to the Capitals Sunday morning.
Hendrix Lapierre (“made unavailable to the team”) and Vincent Iorio scratched for tonight’s Bears game. #ALLCAPS
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) October 28, 2023
Although no official statement has been made from the team, Lapierre could replace Sonny Milano Sunday night against the Sharks. Milano has been ill and didn’t practice on Saturday.
Dowd has been out with an upper body injury, but has begun skating again and participated in the team’s Hockey Fights Cancer skate on Saturday.
Nic Dowd also participating in the event. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/DZ7LaSvwCx
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) October 28, 2023
Dowd played in the first two games of the season before sustaining the injury.
MORE FROM THE CAPITALS
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have recalled forward Hendrix Lapierre from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today. In addition, the Capitals have placed forward Nic Dowd on IR.
Lapierre, 21, has recorded three assists in six games with Hershey this season.
Lapierre appeared in 60 games during his first professional season with Hershey in 2022-23, recording 30 points (15g, 15a). The 6’0”, 188-pound forward ranked second among Hershey rookies in goals, points, power-play points (10) and shots (114). In addition, Lapierre ranked third on the Bears in power-play goals (5). The Gatineau, Quebec native added six points (3g, 3a) in 20 playoff games, including the game-tying goal in Game 7 of the Calder Cup Finals.
Lapierre, the Capitals’ first-round choice (22nd overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft, appeared in six games with the Capitals in 2021-22. Lapierre made his NHL debut and scored his first career goal vs. the New York Rangers on Oct. 13, 2021, becoming the first Capitals rookie since 2014-15 to make his NHL debut at the age of 19 and the fifth-youngest player in franchise history to score in his debut. In six career games with Washington, Lapierre has scored one goal and posted a +2 plus/minus rating.
Following his six-game stint with the Capitals, Lapierre was assigned to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), where he finished the 2021-22 season with a career-high 51 points (21g, 30a) in 40 games. Lapierre also recorded a career high 15-game point streak from Nov. 28, 2021 through March 1, 2022 (14g, 15a) and added another 11 points (4g, 7a) in eight playoff games.
RELATED: Hendrix Lapierre: 2023 Annual Review And Forecast
By Jon Sorensen
This is confusing. Who is he replacing, cause it most certainly isn’t Dowd! Is something else going on?
I believe Sonny Milano is also sick, didn’t practice yesterday.
thanks. now it makes sense.
With Milano being ill yesterday and Lapierre “not available” for the Bears last night, I wondered if a call-up was taking place. Looks like it!!
Glad to see him getting his opportunity. He probably still needs another year before he’s truly ready, but I’m excited to see how he’s grown.
Yeah, totally depends on Millano availability. With Dowd going on IR we needed a 13th forward. Cap space still an issues which is likely why Snively didn’t come up. Expect to see Lapierre as the 13th tonight unless Milano really can’t go. Bears also play at 3pm today.
Lapierre’s cap hit is higher than Snively’s probably just a preference thing for HCSC
Any clue what kind of “upper-body” injury Dowd has? Is it related to the core surgery he had in offseason?