The Capitals moved more pieces around to deal with the injury bug that hit the team late in the preseason. Most notably, the team sent down Jonas Siegenthaler to the Hershey Bears for the start of the season. Siegenthaler impressed during the preseason and was potentially going to be the extra defenseman, but fell victim to a looming Tom Wilson suspension and subsequent roster juggling.
Jayson Megna and Nathan Walker will stay on the team for opening night, as the Capitals placed Travis Boyd on the long-term injured reserve. This distinction means that Boyd will miss at least ten games and twenty-four days. Walker and Megna will try and crack the roster, with the two players seeking to avoid assingment in Hershey. Both would need to clear waivers if a future move is made.
Boyd looked primed to stay on the Capitals’ roster for the entire season for the first time in his career. His lower-body injury is a tough blow for the twenty-five-year-old, who paid his dues in Hershey since the 2014-15 season.
However, the addition of forward Dmitrij Jaskin off of waivers from St. Louis adds greater competition. Jaskin fits the mold of the ideal bottom-six forward, as he adds shot suppression and needed defensive prowess.
Jaskin sent a tweet Tuesday afternoon stating his excitement about joining the team in DC and thanking St. Louis for the start of his NHL career.
I would like to Thank @StLouisBlues organization for making my dream come true and for allowing me to start my NHL career here. Also to my teammates over the years and of course fans you guys are great! With that said I’m extremely excited to join @Capitals! See you soon DC!!!
— Dmitrij Jaskin (@DmitrijJaskin) October 2, 2018
On the blue line, the Capitals put Michal Kempny on the injured reserve, meaning he will miss at least the first two games of the season. The Capital will start the season with six active defensemen, and this could pose problems if another player gets injured.
Aaron Ness cleared waivers and heads back to Hershey. Ness appeared in eight games for the Capitals last season but finished the season down in Hershey. With the emergence of Siegenthaler, it will be hard for Ness to make his way back to Washington this season, barring crazy injuries.
The Capitals had a busy day of roster juggling. The Jaskin addition will be intriguing to monitor in the coming weeks as players come off the injured lists and the roster shifts around.
Headline photo: Cara Bahniuk
