Capitals Reward Pierrick Dube, Recall Scorer From Hershey With Dowd Injured

Dowd was injured in the first period of the Capitals' 6-2 win over the Devils on Tuesday.

With Nic Dowd going down with an injury on Tuesday, the Washington Capitals have recalled forward Pierrick Dubé from the AHL's Hershey Bears.

Dubé has had a standout season with Hershey, totaling 24 goals and 10 assists for 34 points in just 50 games. He’s among the AHL’s top goal scorers.

Dowd was hurt in the first period of Tuesday's 6-2 win over the New Jersey Devils and is being evaluated for an upper-body injury. It is unclear what the severity of the injury is at this time, though he did take a hit from Timo Meier that took his helmet off early in the opening frame.

It's a tough loss for the Capitals, as he is the team's top defensive forward who logs heavy minutes, takes a majority of the defensive zone face-offs and helps power the identity fourth line, all while playing a big role on the penalty kill.

He was also rumored to be a trade chip for Washington given his versatility, coachability and current contract. He has one year left on his deal at $1.3 million. However, his injury may prevent the Capitals from trading him as they continue to evaluate their approach to the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline.

To make space for Dubé, the team can place defenseman Martin Fehervary on the injured reserve. Fehervary is week-to-week with a lower-body injury he suffered on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens.

Dubé is a right winger, so it’s unclear who will move to center with Dowd out. Still, it’s a big opportunity for the French native, who signed his entry-level contract in July.