The Washington Capitals re-assigned defense prospect Leon Muggli to the AHL’s Hershey Bears on Saturday.
Muggli, drafted by the Caps in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft, recently wrapped up his second season with EV Zug in the Swiss National League. The 18-year-old rearguard recorded 11 points (5g, 6a) in 40 games after being loaned back to the club by the Capitals last August.
The Capitals signed Muggli to a three-year, entry-level contract after he attended his first development camp in DC. During his draft season, he led all under-18 skaters in scoring, and his 12 points (3g, 9a) were the most ever by a defenseman age 17 or younger in league history.
Muggli also served as an alternate captain for Switzerland at the 2025 World Juniors, recording three points (3a) in five games. He will still be eligible for his third World Juniors tournament next season.
The Bears have now seen a trio of Capitals prospect defensemen arrive as reinforcements for the final stretch of their regular season and eventual playoff push to three-peat as Calder Cup champions. Muggli will join 2022 draft picks Ryan Chesley and David Gucciardi, who both signed amateur tryout agreements with Hershey earlier this week.
Hershey has struggled with their defensive depth this year, as Hardy Häman Aktell, Logan Day, and Dmitry Osipov have all departed the organization, and they have faced recent injuries to club captain Aaron Ness and AHL veteran Jake Massie.
The Bears play the Hartford Wolf Pack on Saturday night and Sunday evening, but the Capitals say Muggli is not expected to play in either game.
Here’s the full press release from the Capitals:
Capitals Re-assign Leon Muggli to Hershey
2024 second-round pick played in Swiss National League this season
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have re-assigned defenseman Leon Muggli from EV Zug of the Swiss National League (NL) to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick announced today. Muggli is not expected to play for Hershey tonight or on Sunday.
Muggli, 18, recorded 11 points (5g, 6a) in 40 games with Zug this season. The 6’1”, 173-pound defenseman ranked third among the team’s blueliners in goals and tied for third in games played. Muggli also appeared in all four of Zug’s playoff games during his second NL season. The Cham, Switzerland native represented his native country at the 2025 World Junior Championship, serving as an alternate captain and recording three assists in five games.
Muggli, who was selected by Washington with the 52nd overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, registered 12 points (3g, 9a) in 42 games with Zug during the 2023-24 season. Muggli led all under-18 skaters in the NL in scoring and his 12 points were the most ever by a defenseman age 17 or younger in league history. Muggli also appeared in four games with Zug’s under-20 team, recording two assists in four games. Muggli represented Switzerland at the 2024 World Junior Championship, the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and captained the Swiss at the 2024 Under-18 World Championships, where he scored one goal in three games.
Muggli split the 2023-23 season between Zug’s under-20 team, where he recorded eight points (1g, 7a) in 22 games, and the under-17 team, serving as captain and collecting 11 points (5g, 6a) in 16 games. In addition, Muggli captained Switzerland to a gold medal at the 2023 European Youth Olympics and was named the tournament’s best defenseman after recording four points (1g, 3a) in four games.
