The Washington Capitals are 34-32-8 through 74 games this season with eight games left. That’s 76 points, fifth in the Eastern Conference Wild Card but tied with the Buffalo Sabres. Three points behind third place Florida Panthers. Six points behind second place Pittsburgh Penguins who occupy the final playoff spot. Seven behind the New York Islanders who face the Caps on Wednesday.
With eight games left and a possible 16 points still up for grabs for you optimists out there, the Caps should get a look at some young prospects with the injuries going on. Enter Hendrix Lapierre.
There was some news at Capitals practice today at MedStar Capitals Iceplex. Alex Ovechkin did not practice due to a maintenance day. Sonny Milano is out with an upper body injury so why not give Lapierre a chance to play. Milano is at least improving.
Injury updates from #Caps practice:
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) March 27, 2023
-Milano (upper body) did not skate but is improving
-Smith (lower body) left practice after 10 minutes
-Ovechkin did not practice; maintenance
There could be another opening too. Craig Smith left practice after 10 minutes with a lower body injury. And Lapierre has speed, heart and grit, unlike a player I won’t mention his name that is lazy and made a sloppy turnover that led to a loss the other night that hurt the Caps position.
Lapierre is no stranger to NHL ice. The 2020 first rounder that the Capitals traded up for when they got the 22nd pick scored in his NHL debut last season on opening night against the New York Rangers.
After that brief taste of NHL action the Capitals sent Lapierre to the Acadie Athurst Titan of the QMJHL where he had 21 goals and 30 assists for 51 points in 40 games. In the playoffs he had 11 points in eight games with four goals and seven assists.
This season he couldn’t make the opening night roster but that might’ve been a blessing in disguise. He would’ve been miserable up here in the early part of the season spending a lot of time in the press box and not on the ice. Instead he’s currently with the Hershey Bears.
In 52 games this season in Chocolatetown, Lapierre has recorded 10 goals and 14 assists for 24 points. Obviously a dip in the numbers compared to last year but that’s expected as the AHL is more competitive than the QMJHL.
If the Caps are going to spend the summer on the golf course, why not let Lapierre get some NHL game action in some of these remaining games left before he helps the Bears in the Calder Cup playoffs?