The Washington Capitals opted not to place veteran forward Mike Sgarbossa on NHL waivers Thursday — the final day of waivers before the NHL trade deadline.
The move means Sgarbossa will not be able to suit up with the Hershey Bears in this AHL’s 2024 Calder Cup playoffs as only players on the Bears’ roster as of Friday are eligible.
Sgarbossa recently eclipsed the cumulative 10-game and 30-day mark that made him require waivers to be returned to the AHL. Before that, he was free to move up and down due to clearing waivers in October when he was cut from Training Camp.
General manager Brian MacLellan was asked about the impending decision regarding Sgarbossa during his press conference last week.
“We’d have to get him down and up before the deadline for him to go back at the end of the year,” MacLellan said. “We’ll get to the deadline and see where we’re at roster-wise. I mean, I really like the way he’s played here. Provided a lot of energy, stability to our group. We’re going to have to make a decision, come deadline day, whether we want to keep him or not.”
Sgarbossa has held down a center spot in the Capitals’ lineup since Evgeny Kuznetsov went into the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program in early February. Through his 13 games with the club, he has recorded four points (2g, 2a).
The Ontario native is still tied for the Bears’ lead in scoring with 43 points (7g, 36a) in 44 games despite not being with the team for over a month. His 36 assists rank fourth in the entire AHL.
Hershey still has plenty of big talent up the middle, especially since receiving Evgeny Kuznetsov. Hendrix Lapierre will also likely be returned to the team in a paper move before the deadline so he’s eligible to play in the playoffs. Lapierre will not require waivers to make that move. Jimmy Huntington has been centering the Bears’ first line in Sgarbossa’s absence while fourth-line center Riley Sutter looks likely to return from injury as soon as this weekend.
The Bears have proven they can without Sgarbossa in the past as well. Last season, Hershey only had their top center in their postseason lineup for four games due to an injury and they still took home the 2023 Calder Cup championship.
