The Washington Capitals announced Saturday that they have re-assigned 2022 third-round draft selection Alexander Suzdalev to the AHL’s Hershey Bears. Suzdalev saw his stint with the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades end Tuesday night after the Moose Jaw Warriors eliminated Saskatoon in the Eastern Conference Finals with a Game Seven, overtime goal.
Suzdalev will arrive in Hershey after a roller coaster ride of a 2023-24 campaign which started with the Bears in the fall. The 20-year-old winger couldn’t crack Hershey’s lineup so he moved to the HockeyAllsvenskan’s Mora IK for regular playing time before ultimately returning to North America to finish his year with the Blades.
NEWS | The Capitals have re-assigned forward Alexander Suzdalev to the Hershey Bears. https://t.co/dcISewKLet
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) May 11, 2024
The Russian-born, Swedish-raised winger had a difficult return to Canadian major junior, amassing just 25 points (9g, 16a) in 30 games for the Blades. Suzdalev’s rate of production paled in comparison to the 86 points (38g, 48a) he recorded in 66 games for the Regina Pats last year which earned him a spot on the 2022-23 CHL All-Rookie Team.
Suzdalev was dealt to the Blades right before the new year by the Pats after his loan stint with Mora IK did not go as planned. Suzdalev had been skating on the Swedish, second-division team’s fourth line and playing the second-fewest minutes per game. He had amassed just three points (2g, 1a) in 13 games.
Hershey is presently embattled in an Atlantic Division Semifinals matchup with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The Bears have a second shot at eliminating the Phantoms in Game Four of the best-of-five series on Saturday night. The Hartford Wolf Pack awaits the series winner in the Atlantic Division Finals.
Suzdalev joins fellow prospects Andrew Cristall and Zac Funk as Hershey’s black aces for the rest of the postseason.
Here’s the press release from the Capitals:
Capitals Re-assign Alexander Suzdalev to Hershey
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have re-assigned forward Alexander Suzdalev to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.
The Capitals selected Suzdalev, 20, with the 70th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.
This season, Suzdalev recorded 25 points (9g, 16a) in 30 games with the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League (WHL) after joining the team on Jan. 4. The 6’2”, 180-pound forward ranked seventh on Saskatoon in points-per-game (0.83) during the regular season and seventh in postseason scoring with 13 points (4g, 9a) in 16 WHL playoff games. Suzdalev also appeared in 13 games with Mora IK of HockeyAllsvenskan (Sweden-2), registering three points (2g, 1a).
Suzdalev recorded 86 points (38g, 48a) in 66 games with the Regina Pats (WHL) during the 2022-23 season and was named to the CHL All-Rookie Team. Suzdalev led WHL rookies in goals, assists and points and ranked tied for 11th among all skaters in scoring. Suzdalev was named the WHL Rookie of the Month for the months of December and February, the only player to earn the honor twice during the 2022-23 season. Suzdalev added 10 points (7g, 3a) in seven playoff games with Regina, which ranked third on the team.
Suzdalev spent the 2021-22 season in Sweden, leading HV71’s junior team (Sweden-Jr.) in scoring with 51 points (15g, 36a) in 45 regular-season games. The Khabarovsk, Russia native, who competes with Sweden internationally, also appeared in four games with HV71’s U18 team, where he recorded eight points (3g, 5a), and skated in five games with HV71 (Sweden-2). In addition, Suzdalev won a gold medal with Team Sweden at the 2022 IIHF World U18 Championships.
