Capitals fans may have a chance to see their newest prospect in action sooner than they thought.
Joe Snively was spotted at the Hershey Bears’ game at Giant Center. The forward watched the Bears defeat the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins 1-0 in overtime.
Chocolate Hockey’s Kyle Mace first reported the news.
The Washington Capitals newest signing Joe Snively is here in Hershey tonight. Not sure if this means he’s signed or is signing an ATO with the Bears, but he’s in the building for tonight’s game.
— Kyle Mace (@kyle_mace) March 20, 2019
On Monday, Snively, a college free agent, signed a two-way entry-level contract with his hometown Capitals. The contract begins the 2019-20 season, but Snively, a senior at Yale University, played his last game of the ECAC season with Yale on March 16.
Snively may fill the interim by signing an amateur tryout contract to play with the Hershey Bears for the remainder of the season if he can get his remaining class schedule to work with the Bears’.
In his conference call, Snively said no decision has been made on coming to Hershey on a tryout. He'll work with his agent to try and get logistics figured out, but has to look at his class schedule compared to Hershey's schedule and things still up in the air.
— Zack Fisch (@zackfisch) March 18, 2019
Mace has said he believes Snively may see some playing time should he sign an ATO.
The AHL allows for teams to add players signed to amateur tryout contracts to their teams in the middle of the season, so long as the player’s college season or junior season is complete. Signing an amateur tryout contract to play in the AHL does not “burn a year” of a college free agent’s ELC status once in the NHL.
The Bears are currently third in their division and are fighting to secure a spot in the Calder Cup playoffs.
Headline photo: Capitals
