HERSHEY, PA — The Washington Capitals may be without Tom Wilson for an extended period of time after the enforcer high-sticked Toronto Maple Leafs’ forward Noah Gregor in the face during the team’s 7-3 loss, Wednesday. The NHL’s Department of Player Safety offered Wilson an in-person hearing, meaning the Capitals’ right wing could be suspended for six or more games.
With the Capitals one point out of a possible playoff spot and a call-up likely needed, the team will look to Hershey for a reinforcement where numerous high-scoring forwards could be considered like Matthew Phillips (RW), Alex Limoges (LW), and Pierrick Dubé (RW). The Capitals could also finally give an opportunity to Ethen Frank, Hershey’s leading goal-scorer over the last two seasons and the fastest player in hockey. Frank has been skating on the right wing of Hershey’s top line for most of the last two years.
Both Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery and general manager Brian MacLellan mentioned Frank in recent interviews as a prospect the organization would like to give a shot to. Saturday, after Hershey’s 4-1 win over the Syracuse Crunch, I asked Frank about the comments. His eyes grew big and he seemed beyond humbled by the mentions, admitting he had not heard or seen them in the news.
“It would mean everything,” Frank said of a potential call-up to Washington. “Obviously, everybody that plays the game is working their whole lives and whole careers towards playing in the NHL and wanting to stay in the NHL. I can’t take anything for granted and just one shift honestly would mean the world to me and kind of put it all in perspective on how much work you have to put in to make it to that level.”
Much like Felow 2023 Calder Cup champion Mason Morelli, who has scored three goals for the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights after his first call-up to the NHL, Frank comes from humble beginnings. The 26-year-old forward went undrafted and grew up in Papillion, Nebraska, rising in the ranks due to hard work, passion, and dedication. Frank played five seasons at Western Michigan University before getting signed by the Hershey Bears to an AHL contract.
Frank tore up the AHL during his rookie season, leading Hershey and all-league rookies in goals with 30. After signing a one-year NHL contract with the Capitals in March 2023, Frank has followed that performance with 22 goals in his first 52 games this season, leading the team with 11 power-play goals — good for fourth-best in the league.
“He’s doing all the right things,” Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery said in February. “We’ve been keeping a close eye on him… what he’s doing is catching the organization’s attention. I know it hasn’t resulted in a call-up yet and I don’t know when or if that comes to fruition, but the things he’s doing aren’t going unnoticed.”
“Depending on what happens with our roster and injuries, there’s a few guys down there that have had success that we might be able to get in for a few games,” MacLellan added after the trade deadline in March. “[Ethen Frank] is one of them.”
Frank is five games removed from returning from a lower-body injury that kept him out of action for a month. In a February 7 game against the Providence Bruins, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound forward tied up a Bruins player and fell, colliding hard with the goal frame.
Frank has only one point since getting back into the lineup — a goal against the Hartford Wolf Pack on March 17. The tally was his 22nd of the 2023-24 campaign.
Regardless of whatever Washington decides, Frank is zeroing in on being at his top form as the Calder Cup playoffs approach, where Hershey is looking to repeat as champions.
“Coming off this ankle injury, I’m just focusing on getting my game back to being a hard-nosed forward, playing good on the walls, and making plays out of the zone,” Frank said. “Definitely being one of the better skaters on the ice, I try to make the other team panic because I’m on the ice. They’re going to back up a little bit more to give themselves more time and space when I’m out there. Just trying to be the fastest guy on the ice and cause havoc. “
