The Washington Capitals have the day off on Wednesday, but work continues behind the scenes.
In the morning, the team made their latest cut to its training camp roster, loaning goaltender Garin Bjorklund to the AHL’s Hershey Bears.
Bjorklund impressed during his only preseason game, playing 31:15 of the Capitals’ exhibition opener against the Boston Bruins on September 21. The 23-year-old backstop came on in relief of Logan Thompson, stopping all 15 shots he faced in a 5-2 victory.
The Capitals selected Bjorklund in the sixth round of the 2020 NHL Draft, signing him to an entry-level contract in the spring of 2022.
The Calgary native had his breakout pro season last year with the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays, posting a 21-4-3 record, a 2.02 goals-against average, a .927 save percentage, and one shutout. He also played two games for the Hershey Bears in the AHL, going 2-0 with a 1.49 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage.
Bjorklund’s big year led to the Capitals extending him for the 2025-26 season, where he’ll get paid $110k in the minors and $775k in the NHL. He’ll be a restricted free agent again at the end of the 2025-26 campaign.
With the Capitals’ future of Clay Stevenson potentially in doubt due to a possible impending waiver claim, Bjorklund’s importance in the organization has only grown. If Stevenson is claimed by another team in the coming days, Bjorklund likely becomes the de facto starter in Hershey and the new third goalie for the Capitals.
The Bears began their training camp this past weekend and play their first preseason game against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Wednesday night. Bjorklund will join fellow netminders Mitch Gibson and Seth Eisele on Hershey’s camp roster under new head coach Derek King.
