The Washington Capitals recalled forward Spencer Smallman from the AHL’s Hershey Bears on Saturday afternoon.
Smallman receives his first call-up to the big club after Pierre-Luc Dubois was injured early in the Capitals’ 3-1 loss to the New York Islanders on Friday night. The Capitals are already in Buffalo and will play the Sabres in the back half of a back-to-back on Saturday night.
“Everyone’s going to have to step up,” Tom Wilson said Friday. “We’ve got some big names out. It’s not an excuse. Just everyone just needs to give a little bit more. Each guy is going to have to collectively try and fill those voids. It’s not new to anyone. That’s hockey. It’s part of the gig. We just got to pull together and play well as a group, make plays, get our confidence back, and win some hockey games starting [Saturday] night.”
Smallman, 29, has never played in an NHL game. He joined the Capitals’ organization ahead of last year and then signed a two-year contract extension this past spring. In six games with the Bears this fall, Smallman has recorded three points (2g, 1a).
The Capitals are now carrying a full 23-man roster, with Ethen Frank and Rasmus Sandin still on injured reserve.
Here’s the full press release from the Capitals:
Capitals Recall Spencer Smallman
29-year-old forward has appeared in six games with Hershey this season
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have recalled forward Spencer Smallman from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrickannounced today.
Smallman, 29, has recorded three points (2g, 1a) in six games with Hershey this season.
The 6’1”, 205-pound forward recorded 34 points (10g, 24a) in 62 games with Hershey during the 2024-25 season. Smallman, who was in his first season with the Bears, ranked tied for third on the team in games played, tied for fifth in assists, and eighth in points. Smallman’s 24 assists and 34 points were both single-season AHL career highs. In addition, Smallman appeared in all eight of Hershey’s playoff games, registering four points (2g, 2a). The Capitals re-signed Smallman to a two-year, two-way contract on April 1.
Prior to joining Hershey, Smallman spent two seasons with the Colorado Eagles (AHL), tallying 21 points (12g, 9a) in 53 games in 2023-24 and 26 points (13g, 13a) in 61 games in 2022-23.
During the 2021-22 season, Smallman recorded 27 points (10g, 17a) in 65 regular-season games with the Chicago Wolves (AHL) and added six points (2g, 4a) in 18 playoff games to help the Wolves win the 2022 Calder Cup.
Originally drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the fifth round (138th overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft, Smallman has recorded 132 points (50g, 82a) in 312 career AHL games with Hershey, Colorado, Chicago and the Charlotte Checkers. In addition, Smallman has registered 11 points (5g, 6a) in 34 career Calder Cup Playoff games.
