Washington Capitals loan two prospects
The Washington Capitals have loaned two prospects.
Washington Capitals General Manager Brian MacLellan announced on Tuesday that they loaned prospects Damien Riat and Tobias Geisser to the Swiss National League to begin the 2020-21 hockey season.
Riat will head to Geneve-Servette Hockey Club while Geisser will head to EV Zug. It is expected that both players will be recalled to North America when the team’s 2020-21 training camp opens.
The Caps selected Riat with their fourth round pick at 117th overall in the 2016 NHL Draft. The 23 year old recorded 22 points with 11 goals and 11 assists in 36 games with EHC Biel-Bienne in the National League in Switzerland this season.
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Listed at six foot and 180 pounds, the forward led EHL Biel-Bienne in penalty minutes with 57 and ranked fifth on the team in goals. In 223 career games in the National League, Riat has recorded 106 points with 50 goals and 56 assists.
Geisser was selected by the Capitals as their fourth round pick at 120th overall in the 2017 NHL Draft. He appeared in seven games with the AHL’s Hershey Bears this season and 25 for EV Zug where he recorded two assists. Listed as six foot four and 201 pounds, he appeared in 77 career games in the National League recording nine points with two goals and seven assists.
These loans are likely due to the realities of the novel coronavirus pandemic to keep their two prospects on the path of skating and developing their game. The National League preseason begins on August 6.
As far as the start date for next NHL season, that is still being determined and being pushed back as we speak. Gary Bettman’s goal is to finish the season and award the Stanley Cup in early October. The AHL recently announced their tentative start date is December 4, 2020.
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Overall, these prospects hope to one day have an impact with the big club and these loans will help get them on that path.