Capitals Lose Vincent Desharnais for 4-6 Weeks After Surgery

The Washington Capitals will be without Vincent Desharnais for the next four to six weeks after the defenseman underwent surgery Thursday to remove his appendix.

The team announced the news Friday, marking another setback for Washington just nine games into Desharnais’ first season with the club.

Head coach Spencer Carbery told reporters Friday that Desharnais’ surgery came as a surprise, with the defenseman showing no signs that anything was wrong. He also expressed frustration over the timing, noting that the defenseman had been playing well before the unexpected setback.

Through nine games with Washington, Desharnais has three assists, 18 blocked shots, and averaged 19:24 of ice time. 

The 30-year-old signed a four-year, $16.8 million deal with the Capitals in the offseason. He has three assists so far and is averaging more than 19 minutes per game.

Desharnais isn’t the only Capital dealing with a health issue. Rasmus Sandin is back on the ice as he works his way back from ACL surgery, while Justin Sourdif appears ready to return after an illness. Goaltender Logan Thompson is also dealing with a lower-body ailment.

Desharnais joined Washington after previous stints with Edmonton, Vancouver, Pittsburgh and San Jose. He helped the Oilers reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2024.

With Desharnais out for at least the next month, the Capitals will have to make do without him while several other players continue working toward a return.

The Capitals don’t play again until Saturday evening, when they take on the Buffalo Sabres at Capital One Arena, with Washington star forward Alex Tuch taking on his former club for the first time. 

All of the action starts at 5 p.m. local time.

What does everyone think of the latest news? Will the absence of Desharnais have a big impact on the lineup? Let us know below.