Vincent Iorio was the Washington Capitals’ top pick in the 2021 NHL draft, selected 55th overall in the second round. Since beginning his professional hockey career in 2023, the slick-skating, puck-moving defenseman has won two Calder Cups with the Hershey Bears and played 10 NHL games for the Capitals as an injury replacement — nine in the regular season and one in the playoffs.
The Coquitlam, British Columbia native is well-liked in the organization and has shown promise on the ice, but is now at a crossroads in his Capitals career. Since Iorio is in his fifth year with the Caps — he technically signed his entry-level contract during his age-19 season — he is one of several significant prospects, including Clay Stevenson and Hendrix Lapierre, who must pass through NHL waivers if Washington wants to assign them to the AHL.
Making the situation more thorny, the Capitals essentially have their top six starters on defense decided with Jakob Chychrun, John Carlson, Matt Roy, Rasmus Sandin, Trevor van Riemsdyk, and Martin Feherary all returning. Caps management also traded for Declan Chisholm over the offseason to serve in a reserve role as the seventh defender. Iorio may be competing with Dylan McIlrath for a potential eighth defenseman spot that may or may not exist when opening night rosters are due next week.
Iorio admitted to assembled reporters on Tuesday that situation had weighed on him, but he’s tried to center his mind on what he can control.
“Maybe a little bit,” he said on Tuesday. “Honestly, I just try to focus on what I do to prepare every day. I take things day by day and just continue to do what I’ve been doing since I’ve turned pro. I’ve learned a lot of things from a lot of guys, and my parents have taught me to approach things day by day and really be grateful for every opportunity you have. That’s just what I’m going to continue to do.”
Another factor working against Iorio is that the Capitals haven’t added a defenseman from Hershey to their everyday lineup since Fehervary graduated to the team full-time during the 2021-22 season. The depth chart on the Caps, especially with such an established defense core, could be discouraging for a younger player, but Iorio says he just focuses on his game and tries not to worry about the bigger picture.
“You know, as I said earlier, my parents told me to take things day by day, especially right now,” he said. “There’s a lot of things going on, a lot of moving pieces, moving parts, and, you know, as an Italian, we really value family. So, making sure I call my parents every day and give them the scoop.”
Iorio has done his best to make an impact during his first two preseason appearances and force the Capitals into a difficult decision. In his first game against the Boston Bruins on September 21, Iorio was on the ice for two of the Capitals’ five-on-five goals, while he individually blocked five shots and threw three hits.
“I liked his game in Boston. I thought it was strong,” Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery said. “He’s being physical when he can. He’s winning loose pucks. He’s winning net front situations.”
Iorio next played on September 25 against the Philadelphia Flyers at Hershey’s Giant Center. He earned the primary assist on a Sonny Milano goal in the second period.
And later in the third period, Iorio clearly scored a goal, quickly hitting the back bar of the net and out. The tally, however, was not detected by on-ice officials. The missed goal left Iorio throwing his hands up and laughing in disbelief during the next whistle.
“I knew it went in,” Iorio said after the game.
“From our vantage point, it looked like it hit the back bar,” Andrew Cristall added.
For Carbery, though, the goals and assists matter less for Iorio. When the young defenseman is playing his best, he’s not particularly noticeable on the ice — by design.
“I think his game is: he’s a defenseman that is quiet,” Carbery said. “Less is more for him. When he’s playing well, he’s defending well: he’s moving pucks, he’s simple. You don’t notice him. There’s no real big mistakes, whether it’s coverage or puck play, and he’s competing… So there’s not a lot of flash there, but I’ve said this before with you guys, there’s a lot of value there. And that’s his bread and butter and his identity as an NHL defenseman, and he knows that.”
Iorio agreed with Carbery’s sentiments saying, “In junior, you go from being a smaller fish to a bigger fish, and you try a lot of things in junior that probably won’t work unless you’re God gifted in pro. So for me, learning from guys like Mac (Dylan McIlrath) and Nesser (Aaron Ness), when I was a rookie, in my second year, and even last year – you learn the game. You learn the game playing pro hockey and, what to do, what not to do, when to try and force something, when not to.”
While where Iorio may end up at the end of camp is ultimately unknown — Washington DC, Hershey, or another NHL city — he’s done his best to put his best foot forward and learn as much as he can over the last few seasons.
“I think every day you can get better,” Iorio said. “I remember my first year, Steve Richmond said, you have to get one percent better each day. That kind of stuck with me. And for me, day by day, I continue to build and get one percent better.”
