Saturday morning, the Washington Capitals announced that they re-assigned forward Liam O’Brien back to the American Hockey League’s Hershey Bears. Head coach Barry Trotz dressed O’Brien in three of the last four games over incumbent forward Nathan Walker. O’Brien registered one shot and five minutes in penalties.

The transaction was likely made to allow sniper Brett Connolly, previously out with a concussion, return to the team. The Capitals play the Edmonton Oilers Sunday night.

Liam O'Brien was re-assigned to Hershey. Not a surprise with Connolly potentially ready to play tomorrow.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) November 11, 2017

O’Brien’s most notable contribution to the Capitals during his week-long stay was a first period fight Friday against arguably the NHL’s toughest player, Ryan Reaves. O’Brien hung in with the Penguins enforcer, but did not land a punch before being shoved to the ice.

Before Friday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Trotz said of O’Brien, “he plays with some weight… plays with some bite.” He does, and he filled in admirably while he was here.

More from the Capitals:

The Washington Capitals have re-assigned forward Liam O’Brien to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.

O’Brien, 23, played in three games for the Capitals this season, after making his season debut on Nov. 4 at Boston. O’Brien registered two points (one goal, one assist) and 28 penalty minutes in 17 career games with the Capitals. The 6’1”, 215-pound forward made his NHL debut on Oct. 9, 2014 against Montreal, earned his first NHL point with an assist on Oct. 14, 2014 against San Jose and scored his first career NHL goal on Oct. 26, 2014 at Vancouver.

In nine games with Hershey this season, O’Brien, 23, has two goals and four penalty minutes. Last season, O’Brien recorded 30 points (10g, 20a) in 64 games with Hershey and ranked third on the team in penalty minutes (117), seventh in assists and ninth in points. O’Brien recorded a career-high three points (2g, 1a) on Dec. 30, 2016 against Bridgeport and registered seven multi-point games last season. The Halifax, Nova Scotia, native has earned 56 points (23g, 33a) in 177 career AHL games with Hershey.

O’Brien signed with Washington as a free agent on Oct. 6, 2014.