Trade Deadline Primer: Hershey Bears Outlook

This week is a massive one for the Washington Capitals and the American Hockey League-leading Hershey Bears. The NHL’s trade deadline is 3 p.m. on Friday, March 8.

During his media availability, general manager Brian MacLellan reiterated his stance on finding the right deals for the club that make them younger.

On Sunday, the Capitals sat six points out of third place – behind the Philadelphia Flyers – in the Metropolitan Division with three games in hand. Despite recent success, MacLellan indicated that the focus remains the same: building towards the future.

After Sunday’s 5-2 defeat to the Arizona Coyotes, the expectation that the Capitals could look significantly different by the trade deadline could be expedited. The team is idle until Thursday, March 7, when they travel to Pittsburgh to play the Penguins.

Despite suffering back-to-back 1-0 losses over the weekend, Hershey received some good news regarding their depleted forward group. Evgeny Kuznetsov will report to the club after clearing waivers. MacLellan shared that Kuznetsov was seeking a fresh start, and he felt this was the best course of action to do so. Before Sunday’s game at Lehigh Valley, Head coach Todd Nelson said he would be happy to have Kuznetsov in the lineup for the Chocolate and White.

The Bears were without seven key regulars in the lineup due to recalls or injuries. Those are forwards Ivan Miroshnichenko, Hendrix Lapierre, Pierrick Dube, Mike Sgarbossa, Ethen Frank and Riley Sutter, as well as defenseman Lucas Johansen. The Capitals loaned Dube back to Hershey on Monday.

Miroshnichenko, Lapierre and Sgarbossa are currently with the parent club. In order for them to be eligible for the Calder Cup Playoffs, they would need to be sent down to the minors by Friday. Sgarbossa is the only one who requires waivers.

Considering the injury and possible trade news, the moves could be considered paper transactions in nature. The Capitals are currently without forwards Nic Dowd and TJ Oshie, as well as defenseman Martin Fehervary, as they are on injured reserve with various ailments. Nicklas Backstrom is on long-term injured reserve as it is unlikely he will suit up again.

Based on reporting and speculation, there are five Capitals that could be on the move: Dowd, forwards Anthony Mantha and Max Pacioretty, defenseman Joel Edmundson and goaltender Charlie Lindgren. Mantha, Edmundson and Pacioretty are pending unrestricted free agents. Dowd and Lindgren both have one year left on their deals at $1.3 million and $1.1 million, respectively.

Here is what I think could transpire during the deadline:

• Following Dube’s loan to Hershey, Miroshnichenko will be the second clear choice to send down ahead of the deadline. Miroshnichenko, who is having a good rookie campaign in Chocolatetown, has served as healthy scratches for the last few games. The philosophy will be to get him to play meaningful games.
• While I believe Lapierre will be made available for the Bears, I am the least confident about this out of all the waiver-exempt players. Lapierre is clearly NHL ready now, fitting right in as he centers the top line with Alex Ovechkin and Tom Wilson. In his last four games since his Feb. 24 recall, Lapierre recorded five points (three goals, two assists).
• I anticipate Sgarbossa will remain in Washington. If Dowd is moved, there may be an internal sentiment that Sgarbossa would be the shutdown center’s replacement. Before his recall to the Capitals, there was prior familiarity with head coach Spencer Carberry during the bench boss’s time in Hershey.
• If Edmundson is moved, I would not be surprised either way whether a corresponding move takes place to fill his absence (depending on Fehervary’s status). The Capitals currently have eight defenders on the roster.
• If Lindgren is shipped out, which I believe is unlikely (but not impossible), Clay Stevenson or Hunter Shepard would be in line to receive a temporary promotion. While both netminders have performed admirably this season, Stevenson makes the most sense to serve as the understudy to Darcy Kuemper due to his waiver-exempt status. The 25-year-old Stevenson recently signed a three-year extension with the Capitals, which kicks in next season. Goaltender Mitch Gibson would be recalled to Hershey from the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays if the Bears lose one of Stevenson or Shepard to Washington for the time being.
• Update: Capitals traded Mantha to Vegas for two draft picks Tuesday. Caps received a second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

During the State of the Bears event before Saturday’s contest against the Utica Comets, Bears Vice President of Hockey Operations Bryan Helmer indicated the team could be active ahead of the AHL’s March 13 deadline if it makes sense and betters the group. Otherwise, most of the activity will come out of Washington.

In move that was widely expected to happen, did take place on Tuesday when the Washington Capitals, announced that they claimed forward Matthew Phillips on waivers from Pittsburgh an loaned him to Hershey. Phillips, 25, has recorded five points (1g, 4a) in 27 games with the Capitals this season. He was claimed on waivers by the Penguins on Feb. 16 and played in three games with the club. Last season, the 5’8″, 160-pound forward skated with the American Hockey League’s Calgary Wranglers, recording 76 points (36g, 40a) in 66 games to lead the team. He ranked second in the AHL in goals and fifth in points, played in the 2023 AHL All-Star Classic in Laval, and was named to the AHL’s First All-Star Team. 

The Bears hit the road this week for a two game set on Friday, March 8, and Saturday, March 9, in Charlotte against the Checkers. They will then kick off a weekend of three games in as many nights beginning on Friday, March 15, in Utica. Their next home games are Saturday, March 16, against the Syracuse Crunch and Sunday, March 17, against the Hartford Wolfpack.

Photos: Hershey Bears / Tori Hartman