After playing six games for the Capitals, Hardy Häman Aktell is being sent back down to AHL Hershey.
The Swedish defenseman tallied his first NHL point, an assist, on October 29 against the San Jose Sharks.
NEWS | The Washington Capitals have loaned defenseman Hardy Häman Aktell to the Hershey Bearshttps://t.co/FaI6kZNrHX
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 17, 2023
Häman Aktell’s demotion comes as Trevor van Riemsdyk will play against the Columbus Blue Jackets Saturday night and Joel Edmundson could possibly make his Capitals debut. Anthony Mantha is also coming off injured reserve after getting hit in the side of the head by a shot and rupturing his ear drum.
Häman Aktell re-joins a Bears team that is at the top of the standings and have won 10 of its first 14 games. The 6’3”, 216-pound defenseman has played two games for Hershey previously this season and has one goal – his first in North Amerca.
Hershey fans won’t have to wait long to see Häman Aktell back in action, with the Bears set to play a home-and-home series against the Bridgeport Islanders on Friday and Saturday.
Here’s the full press release from the Capitals:
Capitals Loan Hardy Häman Aktell to Hershey
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have loaned defenseman Hardy Häman Aktell to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.
Häman Aktell, 25, has recorded one assist in six games with Washington this season. The 6’3”, 216-pound defenseman made his NHL debut on Oct. 21 at Montreal and recorded his first career NHL assist and point on Oct. 29 vs. San Jose. In addition, Häman Aktell has scored one goal in two games with Hershey this season.
Originally drafted by the Nashville Predators in the fourth round (108th overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft, Häman Aktell signed with the Capitals in April after spending the last three seasons with the Växjö Lakers of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).
Häman Aktell recorded 36 points (9g, 27a) in 51 games with Växjö in 2022-23. The Kåge, Sweden native led Växjö in plus/minus (+23), ranked second on the team in assists and points and tied for third among SHL defenseman in points. Häman Aktell added seven points (3g, 4a) and recorded a +6 plus/minus rating in 18 playoff games, helping Växjö capture the SHL championship for the second time in three years. In 151 career SHL games with Växjö, Häman Aktell recorded 63 points (17g, 46a).
Prior to joining Växjö in 2020-21, Häman Aktell recorded 16 points (6g, 10a) in 45 games with IF Björklöven of HockeyAllsvenskan (Sweden-2) during the 2019-20 season and six points (1g, 5a) in 34 games during the 2018-19 season.
Headline photo: Katie Adler/RMNB
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