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Washington Capitals: Prospect Mathias Bau’s Road Back to IIHF

By Michael Marzzacco

KOSICE, SLOVAKIA - MAY 12: Benedikt Schopper #19 of Germany tackles Mathias Bau #50 of Denmark during the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Slovakia group A game between Denmark and Germany at Steel Arena on May 12, 2019 in Kosice, Slovakia. (Photo by Lukasz Laskowski/PressFocus/MB Media/Getty Images)
KOSICE, SLOVAKIA - MAY 12: Benedikt Schopper #19 of Germany tackles Mathias Bau #50 of Denmark during the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Slovakia group A game between Denmark and Germany at Steel Arena on May 12, 2019 in Kosice, Slovakia. (Photo by Lukasz Laskowski/PressFocus/MB Media/Getty Images) /
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Washington Capitals prospect Mathias Bau is still doing what he can to help Team Denmark try to overcome their adversity of Lars Eller’s injury.

If you’re a Washington Capitals fan who also keeps close tabs on the Hershey  Bears, you may remember Mathias Bau from the 2017-18 season.

It was a down season for the Bears that year. A lot of the main faces from the previous few seasons were finally up in Washington getting their NHL shot. But Bau was one of the biggest positives from that down season.

Bau is nicknamed by fans as the “Giant Panda” based on the popular former panda Bao Bao who once made his home right here in Washington’s Smithsonian National Zoo. Bao Bao was born at the National Zoo in August 2013 and three years later he moved to China (via NPR).

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Bau spent one season playing for the Hershey Bears scoring 13 goals, 10 assists (23 points) in 58 games.

The Capitals rewarded him at the end of the AHL season and in the middle of their 2018 Stanley Cup run by signing Bau to a one-year two-way deal with a cap hit of $700,000.

Bau wasn’t drafted by the Capitals, rather he was signed as a free agent. Bau’s 13-goal season showed the potential the 25-year old. Five of them were game-winners which tied him for most on the Bears. Bau also scored five goals on the power play.

Bau was named to Team Denmark and played in two games before he suffered an injury that ended his season. In the press release the Capitals sent out at the time of announcement, they said Bau was “expected to make a full recovery prior to next year’s training camp.”

Bau ended up not suiting up at all for the Bears with this injury but has healed in time represent his country in the 2019 IIHF World Championship.

Bau appeared in three IIHF tournaments prior to the injury but he’s had his best international performance on this stage to date. Bau has recorded three points (2 goals, 1 assist) in five games.

The Capitals have decisions to make this summer not just on their current players but their prospects as well. Bau is a restricted free agent this offseason.

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His future is currently unknown at this point. He might play for a professional hockey team in Denmark. Or perhaps up north in Chocolatetown, Hershey Bears fans will see their beloved panda again.

Regardless, seeing him shine at Worlds coming off missing an entire AHL season due to injury is a great story.

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