The Washington Capitals announced that they sent forward Brett Leason back to the AHL’s Hershey Bears on Sunday.
Leason’s loan to Hershey comes ahead of Tom Wilson’s likely return to the team’s lineup after missing seven games with a lower-body injury. Wilson remains on injured reserve for the time being, but can be activated whenever the Caps deem necessary, with a roster spot now open.
Leason played six games for the Capitals in his second NHL stint with the team and first since his rookie 2021-22 season. He did not record a point and averaged 8:34 of ice time per game. In his final game with the Capitals, he received only 5:47 of TOI against the Panthers after being on the ice with the third line for AJ Greer’s first-period goal 13:23 into the game.
The 26-year-old winger will head back to Hershey, where he had been one of the team’s top players since signing with the Capitals in October. In 20 AHL games this season, Leason has recorded 14 points (6g, 8a). The Bears are currently on a road trip in Charlotte, but will be back home to play the Hartford Wolf Pack on Tuesday night.
Wilson has not played since being injured by a counter hit from Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy on January 3. The Capitals went 3-4 without Wilson in their lineup. He is still the team’s leading scorer with 42 points (22g, 20a) in 41 games.
The 31-year-old winger has been a full participant in practice since this past Wednesday. Before the injury, Wilson had recorded eight points (5g, 3a) in his last three games.
With their 5-2 loss to the Florida Panthers on Saturday, the Capitals wrapped up a three-game homestand and are now set to embark on a six-game road trip. Their first game comes against the league-leading Colorado Avalanche on Monday afternoon.
Here’s the full press release from the Capitals on Leason’s loan:
Capitals Loan Brett Leason to Hershey
Forward has recorded 14 points in 20 games with Hershey this season
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have loaned forward Brett Leason to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick announced today.
Leason, 26, has appeared in six games with the Capitals this season. The 6’5”, 220-pound forward has also recorded 14 points (6g, 8a) in 20 games with Hershey.
Leason spent the previous three seasons with the Anaheim Ducks, registering 48 points (22g, 26a) in 184 games. During the 2023-24 season, Leason recorded a career-high 22 points (11g, 11a) in 68 contests. Leason, who was claimed off waivers from Washington on Oct. 10, 2022, ranked fifth among Ducks forwards in shorthanded ice time (257:15) and sixth in hits (179) over his three seasons with the team.
The Calgary, Alberta native recorded six points (3g, 3a) in 36 games with the Capitals during the 2021-22 season. Leason made his NHL debut on Oct. 29, 2021, against the Arizona Coyotes and finished the season ranked third among Capitals rookies in games played. Leason also made his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut on May 5, 2022 in Game 2 of the First Round at Florida.
In 226 career NHL games with Anaheim and Washington, Leason has recorded 54 points (25g, 29a). Leason has registered 61 points (24g, 37a) in 134 career AHL games with Hershey.
Leason was originally drafted by the Capitals in the second round (56th overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft.
