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Joe Snively recalled by Capitals after Alex Ovechkin steps away from team for personal reasons

By Chris Cerullo

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February 14, 2023 10:56 am

The Washington Capitals summoned Joe Snively from the Hershey Bears on Tuesday morning.

Snively was recalled after captain Alex Ovechkin was announced to be stepping away from the team for personal reasons.

Snively was last with the team in early January. He was waived by the Caps in order to make room on the roster for the returns of Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson from offseason surgeries.

No additional move will need to be made by the Caps to fit Snively on their 23-man roster. Ovechkin has been moved to the NHL non-roster list. Players can remain on that list indefinitely if unavailable for reasons other than injury or illness and they can be freely replaced by a recall like this one.

Snively, who previously cleared waivers on January 8, would not have to go through waivers again unless he plays in 10 or more cumulative NHL games while Ovechkin is absent or spends 30 cumulative days on the Capitals roster per Puckpedia.

Snively has just one point in six games played at the NHL level this season. His main position is on the left wing just like Ovechkin so he’ll provide forward depth at that position in Washington.

With the Bears this season, Snively has recorded eight points (5g, 3a) in 13 games. He has struggled lately with just one point in his last seven outings.

Update (3:15 pm): Wilson has been placed on injured reserve to make room for Snively’s recall to the NHL. Alex Ovechkin remains on the active roster for now.

Here’s the full press release from the team:

Capitals Recall Joe Snively

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

Snively has recorded one assist in six games with Washington this season. The Herndon, Virginia, native became the first Virginia-born player to play for the Capitals in franchise history last season. In 12 games in 2021-22, Snively recorded seven points (4g, 3a), including a three-point effort (2g, 1a) on Feb. 10, 2022 against the Montreal Canadiens. Snively became one of 15 rookies in franchise history to record at least seven points in his first 10 games. In 18 career NHL games with the Capitals, Snively has recorded eight points (4g, 4a).

In 13 games with Hershey this season, Snively has recorded eight points (5g, 3a). The 5’9″, 179-pound forward ranks tied for fifth on the Bears in power-play goals and seventh in points per game (0.62). Snively recorded 38 points (15g, 23a) in 35 games with Hershey in 2021-22 and ranked third on the team in points and fourth in goals. During the 2020-21 season, Snively registered 17 points (6g, 11a) in 30 games for the Bears. In 132 career AHL games with Hershey, Snively has recorded 94 points (40g, 54a).

Snively trained at MedStar Capitals Iceplex during his youth and was a participant in Washington’s Little Caps program.

Headline photo: Alan Dobbins/RMNB

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