Top Up-And-Coming Capitals Prospects To Watch As Hershey Kicks Off Playoff Run

The Washington Capitals will watch their AHL-affiliate Hershey Bears begin their postseason on Friday, as they face the Charlotte Checkers in the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs following a first-round bye.

There are high expectations for the Bears, who finished second in the Atlantic Division and fourth overall in the regular season. Not only that, but several Capitals prospects are looking to pack a punch and make a statement, especially with several changes likely for the big club this summer and roster spots to be won come training camp.

Here are some of the top names to watch as the Calder Cup Playoffs kick off on Friday.

The 2022-23 season has been a wild ride for Connor McMichael and a major test early on in his career. After starting the year up in the NHL and sitting out multiple games as a healthy scratch, McMichael was sent down to Hershey to get more playing time and to regain his confidence. He did just that.

In 57 games, the 22-year-old dished 16 goals and 23 assists for 39 points and thrived as a top-6 center. He also got time playing on the power play and penalty kill over the course of the season and showed that he can be a strong two-way player, all while continuing to impress with his speed and hockey IQ.

These playoffs will be big for McMichael as he looks to show that he belongs up in the NHL full-time.

Like McMichael, Hendrix Lapierre came into the year with a lot to prove, especially after making the opening night roster in 2021-22 and then finding himself re-assigned to juniors and then not making the cut in 2022-23. He made the full-time jump to the AHL this season and had a mostly solid rookie campaign, which also consisted of a bit of adversity.

In 60 games, Lapierre posted 15 goals and 15 assists for 30 points while also dealing with a couple of healthy scratches and struggles with consistency, especially after going a long stretch without a goal mid-way through the season. However, when put to the test, he was able to get back on track and ended the year strong, and he also recorded a hat trick and four goals total in his final four games of the year.

The playoffs will provide a big stage for the 21-year-old to show what he can do and hopefully boost his confidence heading into the offseason as he looks to bounce back and impress at camp come fall.

The 2022-23 season wasn't the kindest to Beck Malenstyn. The 25-year-old had earned a call-up in late October and was fitting in nicely and gelling perfectly on the fourth line, seemingly winning that spot alongside Nic Dowd and Garnet Hathaway when sacrificing his body and blocking a shot led to a broken hand.

In turn, his time away from the rink led to his spot being taken by Nicolas Aube-Kubel, and when he returned to play, he was back in the AHL working his way back up the ladder. He finished the regular season in Hershey with six goals and four assists in 40 games, and he racked up a ton of hits to boot.

With the playoffs and a lot on the line, Malenstyn will have a chance to continue showcasing his physicality and proving that he can be a full-time NHLer and strong fourth-line presence come fall.

Making his rookie debut for the Bears this season, Ethen Frank quickly rose to prominence and put himself on the radar. His 30-goal campaign, record "fastest skater" performance at the AHL All-Star Game and impressive shot and wicked speed earned him a one-year deal with the Capitals for 2023-24.

The 25-year-old will look not only to continue serving as an X-Factor but to continue leading the charge on the top-6 with the hopes and impressing the organization.

Like his roommate Lapierre, Iorio also made the full-time jump from juniors to the pros this season, and he didn't disappoint. The 20-year-old played a big part on the backend as a strong, smooth-skating defenseman who played well at both ends of the ice.

In 63 AHL games, Iorio had two goals and 20 assists and also earned a call-up for three games with the Capitals, where he recorded an assist on an Alex Ovechkin goal in his NHL debut.

The 6-4, 200-pound defenseman is currently playing a third-pairing role and showed what he can do up at the NHL level. A strong postseason provides him with another big chance to show what he can do.

Another blueliner to keep an eye on is Lucas Johansen. The 25-year-old is still out to prove his NHL worth and make the full-time jump, and the potential for more ice time this year was stifled by injuries.

Through 40 games with Hershey, he had a goal and six assists. He enters the playoffs healthy, and with him on a one-way deal entering 2023-24, look for him to try and make noise and show what he can do with more ice time.

Another defenseman to watch, Bobby Nardella had a strong season and is up for another contract. After an impressive training camp, Nardella returned to the Bears and impressed with seven goals and 21 assists through 61 games.

There's a lot that the 27-year-old, who doesn't shy away from joining the rush and owns a strong point shot, can show in the playoffs. And with the Capitals bolstering their depth on the left side, a strong postseason would be a great way to prove that he can rise to the occasion and earn another look and deal.

Aliaksei Protas and Joe Snively, who played 10-plus games up at the NHL level his season and have established themselves as NHL-caliber players. They are still names to keep an eye on, as Protas wants to maintain his roster spot while Snively wants to earn a permanent stay up.

There are also several other rising prospects that have joined the team as black aces, with Alexander Suzdalev, Ludwig Persson, Bogdan Trineyev and Dru Krebs joining the Bears to get a taste of the pros. It's a nice opportunity for them to experience life in the pros, even if it means just practice.