The Washington Capitals have recalled veteran defender Justin Holl ahead of their two-game road trip this week.
Holl returns to DC after the Capitals lost goaltender Rémi Poirier on waivers to the Dallas Stars, freeing up a roster spot.
Holl dressed for three games with the Capitals earlier this season, averaging 12:59 of ice time. He arrived in DC with just 14 career goals in 405 NHL games and immediately scored in two straight games. In doing so, he became the first Capitals defenseman to score in each of his first two games with the franchise.
The 34-year-old blueliner has played nine games with the AHL’s Hershey Bears this season and recorded three assists.
Holl will be Washington’s seventh defender, with Vincent Desharnais (appendectomy) and Rasmus Sandin (ACL surgery) still out injured.
Here’s the press release from the Capitals:
Capitals Recall Justin Holl
Defenseman has scored two goals in three games with Washington this season
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have recalled defenseman Justin Holl from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), Senior Vice President and General Manager Chris Patrick announced today.
Holl, 34, has recorded three assists in nine games with Hershey this season. In three games with the Capitals, Holl has two goals. The 6’4”, 200-pound defenseman scored in his Capitals debut on Oct. 14 at Carolina and again on Oct. 15 vs. Montreal. Holl became the first defenseman in franchise history to score in each of his first two games with the team. Holl also scored in his first two games with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2017-18 and became the first defenseman in NHL history to score a goal in each of his first two regular-season games with multiple franchises.
Last season, Holl recorded two points (1g, 1a) in nine games with the St. Louis Blues and also appeared in 41 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL), registering 14 points (2g, 12a).
Holl, a nine-year NHL veteran, has recorded 99 points (16g, 83a) in 408 career games with Washington, St. Louis, the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs. Originally drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round (54th overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft, Holl has appeared in 244 career AHL games with Hershey, Grand Rapids, the Toronto Marlies and Rockford IceHogs, collecting 85 points (22g, 63a). Holl won the Calder Cup with Toronto in 2018.
