Barry Trotz believed injured defenseman John Carlson would be ready to play after the All-Star Break. Judging by this round of call-ups, he still may not be able to.
Monday morning after the All-Star Weekend concluded, the Capitals announced two promotions from AHL Hershey, prospect defenseman Christian Djoos and forward Chandler Stephenson.
Stephenson returns back to the club after appearing in two games last week. Stephenson suited up for Jay Beagle Tuesday after the Caps center could not play due to the stomach flu. Stephenson also got a jersey on Thursday after TJ Oshie returned home due to a family emergency.
Meanwhile, for Djoos, this is his first promotion to the NHL. The 22-year-old left-shooting defenseman has tallied 26 points in 35 games this season with Hershey, which includes five goals and 21 assists. Djoos was a seventh round pick in the 2012 entry-draft. His father Par played 82 games in the NHL during a hockey career that spanned 16 seasons.
The Washington Capitals have recalled defenseman Christian Djoos and forward Chandler Stephenson from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.
Djoos, 22, has earned 26 points (5g, 21a) in 35 games with Hershey (AHL) this season. The Gothenburg, Sweden, native ranks third on the team in assists and fifth in points. In addition, he leads Bears defensemen in points and assists and ranks tied for first in goals. Djoos recorded a career-high three assists on Nov. 19 against Syracuse and has registered six multi-point games this season. The 6’0”, 164-pound defenseman earned 22 points (8g, 14a) in 62 games last season and led Hershey defensemen in goals. He has earned 49 points (13g, 36a) in 98 career AHL games with Hershey. Djoos was drafted by the Capitals in the seventh round, 195th overall, in the 2012 NHL Draft.
Stephenson, 22, played in two games with the Capitals this season and made his 2016-17 season debut on Jan. 24 a Ottawa. He played in nine games with Washington last season and made his NHL debut on Oct. 15, 2015 vs. Chicago. The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, native has earned 24 points (6g, 18a) in 41 games with Hershey (AHL) this season and ranks fifth on the team in assists and tied for sixth in points. Stephenson set AHL career highs in assists (21), points (28) and penalty minutes (26) with the Bears in 2015-16. The 6’0”, 204-pound forward has earned 67 points (21g, 46a) in 143 career AHL games with Hershey. He was drafted by the Capitals in the third round, 77th overall, in the 2012 NHL Draft.
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