Capitals Recall Sgarbossa With Kuznetsov Questionable For Wednesday; Latest As Backstrom Goes On LTIR

The Capitals made some transactions with some questions still lingering going into Wednesday night's game against the Panthers.

WASHINGTON — With Evgeny Kuznetsov questionable for Wednesday's game against the Florida Panthers, the Washington Capitals have recalled center Michael Sgarbossa from the AHL's Hershey Bears to fill in.

Meanwhile, Nicklas Backstrom has officially been placed on the long-term injured reserve to allow for another transaction.

Sgarbossa leads the Bears with 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in 11 games this season. He had 58 points in 60 games with Hershey in their Calder Cup-winning season last year.

Kuznetsov had missed the last two practices due to illness but is present for the team's optional morning skate. He is not the first forward to get sick this season, as Sonny Milano also missed a game and some time at practice with an illness in late October.

Beyond Kuznetsov, the Capitals are still awaiting word on Trevor van Riemsdyk, who is questionable for Wednesday after sustaining a lower-body injury on Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He was also skating early on Wednesday.

If van Riemsdyk can't go, Washington will move either Hardy Häman Aktell or Lucas Johansen to the right side rather than making a call-up.

The team also got positive news on the Nic Dowd and Joel Edmundson front, as both were skating with the team in non-contact jerseys, per Monumental Sports Network's Tarik El-Bashir.