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Lucas Johansen among 17 training camp cuts

By Ian Oland

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September 24, 2017 4:36 pm

Sunday, the Capitals announced a big round of cuts from their NHL training camp. 16 players were reassigned to Hershey’s training camp, which begins on Monday, while one player was released outright.

Talented young defenseman and 2016 first-round pick Lucas Johansen was the most notable player re-assigned.

Forwards headed to Hershey include John Albert, Mathias Bau, Chris Bourque, Dustin Gazley, Hampus Gustafsson, Tim McGauley, Garrett Mitchell, Mason Mitchell and Wayne Simpson. Defensemen Kristofers Bindulis, Connor Hobbs, Tommy Hughes, Lucas Johansen, and Hubert Labrie as well as goalies Adam Carlson and Vitek Vanecek have been re-assigned as well.

25-year-old forward Stephen Collins, a 2017 Development camp invitee out of SUNY Geneseo (NCAA), was outright released.

Over the summer, general manager Brian MacLellan named Johansen as one of the most likely candidates to fill the Caps open roster spots on defense – at least long term.

“I really like Lucas Johansen, and whether it’s now or six months from now or a year from now, I think he’s going to be a factor,” MacLellan said to The Washington Post. “Christian Djoos got 58 points at the American League level last year. I guess the knock on him is size (6-feet, 162 pounds), but I don’t think Schmidt (6-1, 194 pounds) is a big guy.”

“It’s a good team, I think,” MacLellan said. “We have good goaltending. We have skilled players. We’re going to have to see how Djoos plays, how Johansen plays. We might take a little while to get up to speed in that area. I guess there’s a little uncertainty. But I feel good.”

Johansen had his moments during the preseason, but still looked like he needed more seasoning.

Another young defenseman who impressed at times during training camp was Connor Hobbs. Hobbs, who scored 31 goals and 85 points for the Regina Pats in his final season of junior, will play his first professional season of hockey for the Hershey Bears.

According to NBC Sports Washington’s Tarik El-Bashir, 36 players remain on the Capitals training camp roster with three preseason games left.

Forwards Riley Barber, Travis Boyd, Alex Chiasson, Tyler Graovac, Liam O’Brien, Anthony Peluso, Zach Sill, Devante Smith-Pelly, Chandler Stephenson, Jakub Vrana and Nathan Walker are left battling for the three available jobs up front.

Meanwhile, defensemen Madison Bowey, Christian Djoos, Jyrki Jokipakka, Tyler Lewington, Aaron Ness, Jonas Siegenthaler and Colby Williams are competing for the two open spots on the backend.

Over the next seven days, the Capitals will complete their preseason schedule, hosting the Devils on Wednesday and playing Carolina on Friday and at St. Louis on Sunday.

Headline photo: Amanda Bowen

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