The Hershey Bears will soon be joined by a familiar face.
Brett Leason cleared NHL waivers on Tuesday afternoon and was immediately assigned by the Washington Capitals to the Bears. Leason, a former Bears player for parts of three seasons, was signed by the Caps to a one-year, two-way contract on Monday morning.
Leason, 26, formerly spent three seasons in the Capitals organization after the team selected him in the second round, 56th overall, in the 2019 NHL Draft.
The Calgary native posted 47 points (18g, 29a) in 114 games for the Hershey Bears from 2019 through 2022 and chipped in six points (3g, 3a) in 36 NHL games with the Capitals during the 2021-22 season.
The next fall, the Capitals lost Leason to a waiver claim by the Anaheim Ducks on October 10, 2022. He would go on to play the next three seasons for the Ducks, posting 48 points (22g, 26a) in 184 games, which included a career-best season of 22 points (11g, 11a) during the 2023-24 campaign.
Hershey’s next game is on Wednesday night against the Bridgeport Islanders. The team is currently dealing with a rash of injuries, which could mean Leason is thrust into immediate action under head coach Derek King.
