The 21-year-old got 11 games up with the Capitals.
WASHINGTON — With T.J. Oshie "ready to rock" and returning from an upper-body injury injury against the New York Rangers, Washington Capitals have assigned forward Hendrix Lapierre to the AHL's Hershey Bears.
With Oshie activated from the injured reserve, Washington was over its 23-man roster limit. So, because Lapierre doesn't require waivers in order to be assigned to Hershey, he was the odd man out.
Lapierre had first been called up on Oct. 29 in wake of Nicklas Backstrom's leave of absence and Nic Dowd's early-season, and he earned an extended stay due to a multitude of other injuries and illnesses up front, from Anthony Mantha to Evgeny Kuznetsov.
The Quebec native appeared in 11 games for the Capitals this season, picking up a goal and two assists while posting a plus-minus rating of minus-2. Lapierre got time playing both center and wing and impressed head coach Spencer Carbery in his NHL stint.
Now, the 21-year-old will get to translate that to Hershey as he continues his sophomore pro hockey season. He's played in six games with the Bears this season, posting three assists. He had been on a line with Pierrick Dube and Ivan Miroshnichenko, though recent developments during Lapierre's NHL tenure will likely see him take the ice with a different combination as he returns.
Oshie had missed the last six games with an upper-body injury he sustained on a collision with Mattias Ekholm on Nov. 24 against the Edmonton Oilers.
Washington faces off against New York at 7 p.m. ET at Capital One Arena.