Smile!

The Caps have announced that they have recalled defenseman Nate Schmidt from Hershey. This is an emergency recall. Apparently, Mike Green is banged up. The Caps listed him a day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Schmidt has 2 goals and 4 assists, and a 53.4-percent shot-attempt percentage in 29 games for the Caps this season. He recently returned from a fractured shoulder blade.

We like Schmidt around here. We like him a lot.

We also like Mike Green.

While the loss of Green on the blue line is a big blow to the team, it appears as if it’s a short-term thing. Having a replacement as capable as Schmidt waiting in the wings speaks to the blue-line depth that Brian MacLellan has built in his short time as General Manager.

Here’s the press release:

ARLINGTON, VA. – The Washington Capitals have recalled defenseman Nate Schmidt from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.

Schmidt, 23, has registered three assists in a career-high 33 games with Washington this season. The St. Cloud, Minn., native made his NHL debut last season and earned six points (two goals, four assists) in 29 games. In 62 career NHL games, Schmidt has registered nine points (two goals, seven assists) and 16 penalty minutes.

Schmidt appeared in eight games with Hershey in 2014-15, recording six points (two goals, four assists). The 6’0”, 193-pound defenseman registered an AHL career-high three points (two goals, one assist) in his AHL season debut on Jan. 10 against Norfolk. Schmidt has recorded 23 points (five goals, 18 assists) and 14 penalty minutes in 54 career AHL games with the Bears.