The Washington Capitals announced Friday morning that they recalled forward Tyler Graovac from his long-term conditioning stint with the Hershey Bears. Groavac had been on the suffering an upper-body injury during the October 17 game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Graovac returned to practice on November 9, skating in a grey non-contact jersey, before being sent on his conditioning assignment on November 14. In four games with Hershey, Graovac recorded two points (1 goal, 1 assist).
This move coincides with the Capitals placing defenseman Christian Djoos on injured reverse. Djoos left the Capitals game on November 14 in the second period with an upper-body injury and has not played since.
Barry Trotz has declined to answer if Djoos is suffering from concussion symptoms.
“I don’t want to answer that,” Trotz said curtly when asked by reporters whether Djoos was undergoing the NHL’s concussion protocol. “I don’t know exactly when he’s going to skate yet.”
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The Washington Capitals have recalled forward Tyler Graovac from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.
Graovac, 24, recorded two points (1g, 1a) in four games with Hershey since being assigned on a long-term conditioning loan on Nov. 14. The 6’5″, 208-pound center played in three games for the Capitals this season prior to his upper body injury on Oct. 17 versus the Toronto Maple Leafs.
As a member of the Wild last season, Graovac registered nine points (7g, 2a) in 52 games. Graovac scored his first NHL goal in his 2016-17 season debut on Oct. 29 against Dallas and recorded his first NHL assist on Feb. 27 against Los Angeles. He made his NHL debut during the 2014-15 season on Dec. 29, 2014 at Winnipeg and has recorded nine points (7g, 2a) in 60 career NHL games. Graovac was drafted by Minnesota in the seventh round, 191st overall, in the 2011 NHL Draft.
The Brampton. Ont., native earned 15 points (10g, 5a) in 26 games with the Iowa Wild (AHL) in 2016-17 and has recorded 104 points (50g, 54a) in 204 career AHL games. Graovac set AHL career highs in goals (21), assists (25), points (46) and games played (73) during the 2014-15 season and led the Wild in points, goals, power-play goals (9) and game-winning goals (4).
The Capitals acquired Graovac from the Minnesota Wild on June 14, 2017 for a fifth-round draft pick in the 2018 NHL Draft.
Photo: Cara Bahniuk
