Monday afternoon, three hours after Marcus Johansson was named the NHL’s second start of the week, Capitals prospect Christian Djoos was named the AHL’s Player of the Month for March.
The Bears defenseman posted 16 points in 13 March games, tallying assists in nine of those games. Djoos also posted a career-high four points (two goals, two assists) March 17 against Hartford.
While no one ever doubted the 2012 seventh round pick could play, Djoos’ size — he’s generously listed as six-foot, 161 pounds — was supposed to limit the prospect as he climbed the ranks. Instead, the 22-year-old is playing great hockey and forcing his way into the NHL team’s plans. Djoos earned a call-up in late January. NHL games could be possible next season.
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DJOOS NAMED CCM/AHL PLAYER OF THE MONTH FOR MARCH
(Hershey, PA- April 3, 2017)-The American Hockey League announced today that defenseman Christian Djoos of the Hershey Bears hockey team has been named the CCM/AHL Player of the Month for March.
Djoos, 22, posted 16 points (three goals, 13 assists) with a +10 rating in 13 games during March. The second-year defender enjoyed several standout performances, opening the month with a goal and an assist in Hershey’s 5-1 win at Syracuse on Mar. 3, and adding a career best three assists in Hershey’s 7-1 win at Binghamton on Mar. 11. Djoos had a memorable night vs. Hartford on Mar. 17, capping the first two-goal game and the first four-point effort of his career by scoring the winning goal in overtime for a 4-3 Hershey victory. Djoos’ four-point evening also tied Hershey’s season-high for the best single game offensive output by a player.
Djoos is currently tied for second among AHL defensemen in scoring with 55 points (12 goals, 43 assists) in 62 games with Hershey this season. The native of Gothenburg, Sweden has tallied the most points by a Hershey defender since Lawrence Nycholat struck for 57 points in 73 games during the 2005-06 season. If Djoos were to surpass 60 points, he’d become the first Hershey blue liner to accomplish the feat since Michael Gaul notched 69 points in 65 games during the 1999-00 campaign.
Djoos was selected in the seventh round of the 2012 NHL Draft by the Washington Capitals. He earned his first NHL call-up on Jan. 30, but did not see any game action with the Capitals. As a rookie last season, Djoos scored 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) over 62 games, and also collected nine points in 21 playoff games as Hershey advanced to the Calder Cup Finals. He is the son of Par Djoos, a former NHL defender for the Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers.
Djoos and Hershey hit the road for three games this week. The Bears are outside of the Atlantic Division playoff picture by just one point with five games remaining. Hershey’s next game is at 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday at the PPL Center as the club rematches with the Phantoms. The game may be heard on the Bears Radio Network and viewed on AHL Live.
