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Washington Capitals: A look at Aaron Ness and what could have been

By Michael Marzzacco

OTTAWA, ON - OCTOBER 05: Washington Capitals Defenceman Aaron Ness (55) looks on during the pre-game warmup before the NHL game between the Ottawa Senators and the Washington Capitals on Oct. 5, 2017 at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Steven Kingsman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - OCTOBER 05: Washington Capitals Defenceman Aaron Ness (55) looks on during the pre-game warmup before the NHL game between the Ottawa Senators and the Washington Capitals on Oct. 5, 2017 at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Steven Kingsman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Aaron Ness, now former veteran Hershey Bears defenseman, nearly had a chance to be one of the young blueliners established on the Washington Capitals.

Aaron Ness saw a few stops up in the NHL with the Washington Capitals but ironically saw the most action at that stage with the New York Islanders, the original club that drafted him. As the defenseman was making a name for himself with the Hershey Bears, injuries and recalls gave him a shot in Washington.

Ness made his Capitals debut in Columbus on Jan. 2, 2016 and was on the ice for 8:49 with a pair of blocked shots. Part of the Ness recall was with John Carlson and Brooks Orpik each on injured-reserve with lower body injuries.

Ness’ best game during that eight-game stretch that season came eight days later in a 7-1 home win over the Ottawa Senators. Playing 14:57, Ness laid out two hits, blocked three shots and assisted on a Tom Wilson goal on a historic night that saw Alex Ovechkin score his 500th career goal.

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Up in Hershey, Ness suited up for 62 Bears games and finished second among defensemen with 27 points (6 goals, 21 assists). In the playoffs, Ness finished third on the Bears with 12 points in their run to the Calder Cup Final.

Ness is one of the top defensemen in the AHL that can pack an offensive punch when necessary. He had another extended NHL look in Washington in the early part of the 2017-18 season. Ness made the opening night lineup and hoped to be one of the new rookies to step up and fill a void that was left with the departure of three defensemen that summer.

The inexperience of the defense as a whole with mostly youth as well as adjustment struggles contributed to a poor stretch. Ness had just one assist in eight games averaging 12:44 minutes of ice time and eight penalty minutes. Ness was scratched a few times in November before clearing waivers to finish out the season in Hershey.

Ness finished the 2017-18 regular season with 29 points (4 goals, 25 assists) in 55 games. He was even better in 2018-19, recording 55 points (5 goals, 50 assists) in 71 games as well as a +24, three power play goals, two game-winners and 40 penalty minutes. Ness’ 55 points and 50 assists led AHL defensemen.

In Hershey’s first game of the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Ness lost his balance, slid into a goal post and crashed head first into the boards in the third period. Ness was stretchered off the ice and left the game with a severe injury. Ness returned for Game 5 of that series and played in each of the four second round games.

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Now Ness heads to the Arizona Coyotes organization, signing a two-year, two-way deal. Things didn’t pan out in a transition from the AHL to the NHL with either the Islanders or the Capitals but Ness may get his shot with a new team.

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