More good news on the Christian Djoos front. Since suffering from compartment syndrome after an injury on December 11, 2018, the defender has made steady progress, returning to practice this week. On Sunday the Caps announced Djoos will report to the Hershey Bears for a conditioning stint before he returns to NHL play.

Update, 11:30 AM: Per Steve Whyno, Todd Reirden says Djoos will play for Hershey today and will return to the Caps mid-week.

Conditioning assignments typically last under two weeks. Players are paid their NHL-level salaries during an assignment. It seems like Djoos is almost back.

From the Caps:

The Washington Capitals have assigned defenseman Christian Djoos to the Hershey Bears (AHL) on a long-term injury conditioning assignment, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.

Djoos, 24, played in 28 games this season, recording four assists, before sustaining an injury on Dec. 11 versus the Detroit Red Wings.

The Gothenburg, Sweden, native registered 14 points (3g, 11a) in 63 games in his rookie season last year. Djoos, who recorded a goal and an assist in his first career game on Oct. 11, 2017 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, became the first defenseman in franchise history to record two points in his NHL debut. The 6’0″, 180-pound defenseman led all Capitals defensemen last year with a 51.79 on-ice shot attempt percentage at five-on-five (838 on-ice shot attempts for, 780 against). Additionally, Djoos added an assist in 22 games during the playoffs en route to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup. In 91 NHL games, Djoos has recorded 18 points (3g, 15a).

Djoos was selected by the Capitals in the seventh round, 195th overall, in the 2012 NHL Draft. Djoos has represented Sweden at two IIHF World Junior Championships (2013, 2014) and one IIHF U18 World Championship (2012), capturing a silver medal at each tournament. Christian Djoos is the son of former NHL defenseman Par Djoos, who played for the Detroit Red Wings and the New York Rangers.

Headline photo: Cara Bahniuk