Friday afternoon, the Capitals already barren depth was exacerbated further when the team called up Anthony Peluso from AHL Hershey. The grinder will take Tyler Graovac’s roster spot and replace Brett Connolly who was injured Thursday night against Vancouver.

Peluso was signed by Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan as a free agent over the offseason. He has played three games for the Bears this year. He spent 142 games in the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets between 2012 and 2016.

In a corresponding roster move, Tyler Graovac was placed on injured reserve. Graovac suffered an “upper body” injury on October 17 versus the Toronto Maple Leafs after receiving two hard checks to the shoulder by Toronto’s Matt Martin.

RELEASE: Capitals recall Anthony Peluso from AHL Hershey, place Tyler Graovac on IR. https://t.co/gXkXQkDwWG

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) October 27, 2017

More from the Caps:

The Washington Capitals have recalled forward Anthony Peluso from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.

Peluso, 28, has played in three games for Hershey this season. The 6’4”, 225-pound forward played in 22 games for the Manitoba Moose (AHL) last season and recorded two assists.

In 142-career NHL games with the Winnipeg Jets between the 2012-13 and 2015-16 seasons, Peluso has 14 points (4g, 10a), 13 of which came at even strength (3g, 10a), and 209 penalty minutes.

In 205 AHL games between Hershey, Manitoba and the Peoria Rivermen (since re-named Utica Comets), Peluso has 31 points (15g, 16a) and 382 penalty minutes.

Peluso was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the sixth round, 160th overall, in the 2007 NHL Draft. The Capitals signed Peluso as a free agent on July 1, 2017.

Headline photo: Cara Bahniuk