The Washington Capitals announced on Saturday afternoon that they have recalled forward Aliaksei Protas from the AHL’s Hershey Bears. Protas was sent down on Friday so that the Capitals could call up goaltender Clay Stevenson to backup Charlie Lindgren on Opening Night. Darcy Kuemper was unavailable due to the birth of his first child.
To make room for Protas on the roster, Stevenson was sent back down to Hershey. The move indicates that Kuemper will be ready to go for the Capitals’ second game of the season against the Calgary Flames on Monday.
NEWS | The Washington Capitals have recalled forward Aliaksei Protas from the Hershey Bears and have loaned goaltender Clay Stevenson to Hershey.https://t.co/moXirHwzHd
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 14, 2023
The Capitals had Saturday off after their 4-0 season-opening loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. They will get back on the ice Sunday for practice which will give us more of a hint on Kuemper’s exact availability and if Protas will jump straight back into the lineup.
Protas was one of only two waivers exempt players to make the Opening Night roster. Naturally, that meant he was chosen to be sacrificed for the team’s need for another netminder as there was no risk of losing him to another NHL club by sending him to the minor leagues.
Lindgren did indeed get the nod in the shutout loss. He made 31 stops on 35 shots against. Two of those goals came with the Capitals’ trying to kill off penalties.
Stevenson will head back to Hershey as they get ready to open their own season against the Belleville Senators on Saturday night. It’s possible that he’ll start against the Baby Sens as regular starter Hunter Shepard is apparently ill and was not present at the morning skate.
Paper transaction as expected. Wouldn’t be surprised if Stevenson is the starter tonight – Shepard is sick, and Garin Bjorklund was the only goalie we saw in morning skate. https://t.co/KEtieaJBUu
— Bears Hockey Nation (@HBHNationBlog) October 14, 2023
Here’s the full release from the team:
Capitals Recall Aliaksei Protas, Goaltender Clay Stevenson Loaned to Hershey
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have recalled forward Aliaksei Protas from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL) and have loaned goaltender Clay Stevenson to Hershey, president of hockey operations and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.
Protas, 22, recorded 15 points (4g, 11a) in 58 games with Washington in 2022-23. The 6’6”, 237-pound forward established NHL single-season career highs in goals, assists, points, games played and shots (83). In 91 career games with the Capitals, Protas has registered 24 points (7g, 17a) while averaging 11:38 time on ice per game.
The Minsk, Belarus native added five points (2g, 3a) in nine regular-season games with Hershey and 13 points (5g, 8a) in 20 playoff games during Hershey’s run to the Calder Cup championship. During the playoffs, Protas was tied for the team lead in power-play goals (2), tied for second in goals and tied for third in points.
Stevenson, 24, appeared in 36 games for the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL) last season, posting a record of 19-12-3-1 with a 2.54 goals-against average, a .916 save percentage and three shutouts. The 6’4”, 185-pound goaltender ranked second among ECHL goaltenders in goals-against average, tied for fifth in shutouts and seventh in save percentage. In addition, Stevenson posted a 2-1-2 record with a 2.11 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage in five Kelly Cup Playoff games.
The Drayton Valley, Alberta native also posted a 3-0-0 record with a 1.96 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage in three games with Hershey in 2022-23. Stevenson made his AHL debut on Dec. 10, 2022, against the Cleveland Monsters, stopping 25 of 27 shots.
The Capitals signed Stevenson to a two-year entry-level contract on March 28, 2022, following his sophomore season at Dartmouth (NCAA). Stevenson earned six of Dartmouth’s seven wins during the 2021-22 season, leading the Big Green in wins, save percentage (.922), goals-against average (2.70) and shutouts (2). Stevenson posted a save percentage above .900 in all 23 games he played and his .922 save percentage was tied for second in the ECAC. Stevenson, who won the Phelan Award as Dartmouth’s MVP, was named to the 2021-22 All-Ivy First Team, the ECAC All-Rookie Team and the ECAC Third All-Star Team.
Headline photo: Alan Dobbins/RMNB
