The Hershey Bears ended their season last night. Martin Erat might have done that as well when he slammed his wrist into the net. As a result, the Capitals have recalled youngling Tom Wilson and former NHL player Joey Crabb from the Hershey Bears.

Are these our 2013 black aces, or will Wilson or Crabb see some play? Will Aaron Volpatti go from waiver wire to playoff hockey in the span of a few months? Will Wojtek Wolski ever play again?

P.S. Ovi for Lindsay.

From the Capitals:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 9, 2013

Capitals Recall Tom Wilson and Joey Crabb from the Hershey Bears
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have recalled right wings Tom Wilson and Joey Crabb from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.

Wilson, 19, made his professional debut with Hershey in Game 3 of the AHL Eastern Conference quarterfinal vs. Providence and recorded one goal and six penalty minutes in three playoff games with the Bears. He recently completed his season with Plymouth after helping the Whalers reach the OHL Western Conference Championship Series where they fell to London in five games. Wilson earned OHL Player of the Week honors for the week ending April 21 and collected six goals, two assists and 12 penalty minutes in his last four games of the championship series. He and teammate (and fellow Capitals prospect) Connor Carrick both ranked in the top-10 in playoff scoring when Plymouth was eliminated as Wilson recorded 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) and 41 penalty minutes in his 12 playoff games.

The Toronto native, who was drafted in the first round (16th overall) by the Capitals in the 2012 NHL Draft in Pittsburgh, recorded 58 points (23 goals, 35 assists) and 104 penalty minutes in 48 regular season games with Plymouth this season. He ranked fifth on Plymouth in points, tied for sixth in goals and second in penalty minutes despite missing 20 games. The 6’4”, 210-pound forward was recalled on Jan. 12 to participate in the Capitals training camp.

In 2011-12 he collected 27 points (nine goals, 18 assists) and 141 penalty minutes in 49 games with Plymouth and added 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in 13 OHL playoff games. Wilson was voted as the ‘Best Body Checker’ in the OHL’s 2012 Western Conference Coaches Poll and was a runner up for the ‘Hardest Worker’ category.

Wilson won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2011 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, posting three goals in five games. He also won gold with Team Ontario at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, recording one assist and six penalty minutes in four games. The Capitals signed Wilson to a three-year, entry level contract on July 19, 2012.

Crabb, 30, collected two goals and eight penalty minutes in 26 games with Washington this season and six goals and six assists in 12 games with Hershey. He led the Bears with five goals in five games during the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Last season he recorded career highs in goals (11), assists (15), points (26) and games played (67) with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He finished the season ranked 11th on Toronto in points and eighth in goals while his plus-one rating finished tied for fifth on the team. In addition, Crabb recorded three assists in eight games with the United States at the 2012 World Championships.

The Anchorage, Alaska, native has appeared in 170 career NHL games with Atlanta, Toronto and Washington, compiling 52 points (20 goals, 32 assists) and 93 penalty minutes. He has collected 184 points (79 goals, 105 assists) in 311 career AHL games with Hershey, Chicago and Toronto. The 6’1”, 190-pound forward won a Calder Cup championship with the Chicago Wolves in 2007-08, posting one goal and five assists in 24 playoff games. Crabb was originally drafted by the New York Rangers in the seventh round (226th overall) of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft after spending four seasons at Colorado College (NCAA).

Both Wilson and Crabb will participate in today’s 11:30 a.m. Capitals practice at Kettler Capitals Iceplex. Wilson wears No. 43 while Joey Crabb wears No. 15 for Washington.