The Washington Capitals made a minor roster move of sending Mike Sgarbossa back to the AHL’s Hershey Bears after their major one of acquiring Lars Eller from the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday.
Sgarbossa heads back to the Bears, so Eller has an NHL roster slot he can immediately fill. In his only appearance with the Capitals during his most recent stint with the club, Sgarbossa had a two-point game (1g, 1a) against the St. Louis Blues.
NEWS | The Capitals have loaned forward Mike Sgarbossa to the Hershey Bears.#ALLCAPS | @Shift4 https://t.co/u3hNKeLshV
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 13, 2024
In his two recall spells with Washington this season, Sgarbossa has split time with Hendrix Lapierre as the Capitals’ third-line center. Eller’s arrival solidifies that spot in the team’s lineup and leaves Lapierre as the likely lone extra forward on the roster.
Sgarbossa has already played seven games for the Bears this season, recording nine points (1g, 8a). The 32-year-old pivot served as the Bears’ number-one centerman and will likely retake that role from Luke Philp once he gets back to Hershey.
Sgarbossa does not need waivers to return to the AHL, as he has not played in 10 NHL games since the Capitals last waived him in early October.
Here’s the full press release from the Capitals:
Capitals Loan Mike Sgarbossa to Hershey
Forward has recorded two points (1g, 1a) in three games with Washington this season
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have loaned forward Mike Sgarbossa to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick announced today.
Sgarbossa, 32, has recorded two points (1g, 1a) in three games with the Capitals this season. Sgarbossa, who is in his seventh season with Hershey, has recorded nine points (1g, 8a) in seven games with the Bears in 2024-25. Sgarbossa’s eight assists rank second on Hershey.
The 6’0”, 192-pound center recorded seven points (4g, 3a) in 25 games with the Capitals in 2023-24, setting an NHL single-season career high in goals and tying his career high in points (2016-17: 2g-5a–7p in 29 GP). Sgarbossa also appeared in 44 games with Hershey, where he registered 43 points (7g, 36a) and ranked first on the Bears in points-per-game (0.98).
Sgarbossa recorded 58 points (21g, 37a) in 60 regular-season games with Hershey in 2022-23, leading the Bears in assists, points and power-play assists (16). Sgarbossa’s 58 points marked his highest single season point total since 2018-19 (65p in 75 GP), his first season with the Bears, while his 37 assists marked a career high. In 269 games with Hershey, Sgarbossa has recorded 246 points (87g, 159a).
The Campbellville, Ontario native has appeared in 45 games with the Capitals since the 2019-20 season, recording 15 points (7g, 8a) and a +7 plus-minus rating. In 93 career NHL games with the Capitals, Florida Panthers, Anaheim Ducks and Colorado Avalanche, Sgarbossa has recorded 25 points (9g, 16a). Sgarbossa has recorded 445 points (159g, 286a) in 581 career AHL games with the Bears, Manitoba Moose, San Diego Gulls, Springfield Thunderbirds, Lake Erie Monsters and Norfolk Admirals.
