Vicent Iorio was one of seven players from the Washington Capitals sent down to the AHL’s Hershey Bears on Monday after the team was eliminated from the playoffs by the New York Rangers.
But, according to the voice of the Bears, Zack Fisch, the top prospect defenseman remains hurt and is currently ineligible to return to the lineup.
“Note on Iorio, he won’t appear on Hershey’s roster until he’s cleared to return, but will be here working towards getting back to game action,” Fisch said on X.
The start of the Bears’ playoff run begins on Wednesday as Hershey hosts the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at Giant Center for Game 1 of the Atlantic Division semifinals.
Iorio was injured on April 21 after absorbing a borderline hit from Rangers forward Alexis Lafrenière. Iorio crashed into the boards awkwardly and could be seen holding his shoulder afterward.
Iorio skated with the Capitals in a non-contact jersey towards the end of the series with New York. In his last practice with the big club on Sunday, he took the team’s extra scratches skate while still donning a light blue, non-contact sweater.
The 21-year-old blueliner played a big role for the Bears this season, recording 14 points (4g, 10a) in 60 games for the AHL’s top team. Iorio, the Capitals’ top draft pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, played in 15 playoff games for Hershey in their successful run to the Calder Cup last summer.
