Connor McMichael has a 10-game point streak with the AHL's Hershey Bears. The Capitals prospect is developing well after spending most of last year in the NHL.
The Washington Capitals would have been silly not to re-assign Connor McMichael to the AHL’s Hershey Bears in late November.
An underwhelming showing at training camp, coupled with the emergence of UFA signings Dylan Strome and Sonny Milano, led to McMichael tumbling down the Capitals’ depth chart ahead of the 2022-23 season.
After McMichael recorded 18 points in 68 NHL games as a rookie last year, the 22-year-old was scratched for all but six of Washington's first 20 games, tallying no points and two shots while averaging fewer than nine minutes of ice time per game.
There’s no benefit to having a prospect like McMichael, who The Hockey News ranked 49th in this year’s Future Watch Issue, watching from an NHL press box instead of going to the AHL and playing heavy minutes. The way Bears coach Todd Nelson sees it, this detour in McMichael’s NHL career is going to benefit him in the long run.
“Quite honestly, if they had made this decision last year, it would’ve been best for him as well,” Nelson said. “The last two and a half months, he’s been playing his best hockey.”
After registering 15 points in his first 25 AHL games, McMichael has potted 22 points in his last 26 games, and he’s currently riding a 10-game point streak. McMichael is playing center, his natural position, after mainly playing on the wing in Washington.
“As a centerman, you’re more involved in the play,” McMichael said. “You’re all over the ice. You’re attacking the middle of the ice more, so you’re able to create more plays.”
That’s precisely what the No. 25 overall selection in the 2019 NHL draft is good at. He weaponizes his speed, puck protection and his laser of shot to drive play down the middle — especially the latter.
“His shot — that’s going to make him really successful at the next level,” said Bears defenseman Dylan McIlrath. “He’s got that natural scoring ability.”
McMichael is producing 9.03 even-strength scoring chances per 60 minutes in the AHL, second to Kirill Marchenko (10.3) for the league lead, according to InStat data.
“Anytime you get sent down from the National Hockey League, it's always tough,” Nelson said. “But the thing is, this is a really good investment for his future. He’s playing big, important minutes.”
Soon, he’ll be playing meaningful post-season hockey. Sitting in first place in the AHL’s Eastern Conference with six regular-season games remaining, the Bears look poised to make a deep playoff run.
“It’s a lot more physical in the playoffs. It’s important for Connor to go through the rigors of that,” Nelson said. “If players can’t handle that in the Calder Cup playoffs, they’re not going to be able to handle it in the Stanley Cup playoffs.”
The Calder Cup playoffs present a massive opportunity for Connor McMichael to really take over and play a top role in a high-pressure environment. If McMichael can procure some solid post-season mileage this season, one would have to think Washington will give him every chance to crack the lineup.
Capitals GM Brian MacLellan said during an interview with a local radio station back in March that he was interested in adding more skill to his lineup. Washington ranks 18th in 5-on-5 goals per 60 minutes this season, a steep decline from the previous two seasons (11th and 5th), according to naturalstattrick.com.
The Capitals have four forwards as pending UFAs, but they play mainly on the wing. They also have centers Dylan Strome, Nicklas Backstrom, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Nic Dowd under contract for at least the next two seasons after this one. McMichael said he's fine playing wherever he's needed, so there's a chance he'll find himself back on the wing in his next NHL appearance.
Washington, however, began a retool at the NHL trade deadline, sending out veterans such as Dmitry Orlov and Garnet Hathaway to bring in younger talent like Rasmus Sandin. If the Capitals continue to tweak their roster for the future and a veteran center finds himself on the trade block, there might be an open slot for McMichael to show his improved game down the middle next season.
But either way, McIlrath said one thing is likely for Washington's top prospect.
“Next year, he’ll hit the ground running at training camp, and I don’t think we’ll see him again,” McIlrath said.