Crouse, 18, was selected 11th overall in this summer’s draft. The 6-foot-4, 215 lbs. winger tallied 29 goals and 22 assists (51 points) in 56 games with the Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) last season. Crouse has some competition to make the squad, but his size could prove to be a key factor in the Panthers decision. After the nine-game tryout, the Panthers will decide what is best for his future.
Schmidt, 23, had four points (1G / 3A) in 39 games with the Capitals in 2014-15. In 19 games with Hershey he collected nine points (3G / 6A). He signed a one-way contract which suggests he might take Mike Green’s spot on the team. Green is expected to test free agency on July 1st.
Schmidt appeared in six games under emergency conditions. He scored one goal and was a minus-4 over that span.
Schmidt, 23, has been recalled because Mike Green is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Schmidt has three assists in 33 games with the Capitals this season. While in Hershey, he has registered six points (2G / 4A) in eight games.
Connauton has missed the last six games with a lower-body injury, but has been cleared to play on Tuesday. Just because he has been cleared to play, doesn’t mean that he will, but he is available for coach Todd Richards.
Cole, 26, will be a restricted free agent in the offseason. He has the size to be a good defensive defenseman but has shown a little bit of offensive acumen as well. He had nine points (4G / 5A), a plus-16 rating, 42 hits and 63 blocked shots in 54 games this season.
Cole was a healthy scratch on Tuesday, but will be back in tonight for Chris Butler. He has on goal and two assists in his last six games.
Connauton will miss his second straight game tonight and will miss his third tomorrow vs. the Penguins. He is listed as day-to-day, so there is a chance that he could return next Tuesday vs. the Capitals.
Although the decision on that might not be finalized for a few days, a source familiar with his situation said the injury that has prevented Maatta from playing since Dec. 6 has not responded satisfactorily to rehabilitation efforts. Maatta is expected to undergo an operation once he is officially ruled out of the rest of the season, but a decision on surgery has not been finalized yet.
Schmidt was sent down to Hershey on Saturday and fractured his scapula in his first game back with the team. It was a rough weekend for the 23-year-old.
Schmidt, 23, registered three assists in a career-high 33 games with Washington this season. He had been a healthy scratch in five of the last six games.
Maatta has been skating for over a week but still needs to join full practice, before a return is imminent. He is one and a half weeks into a four-week timetable, and there has been no word on whether or not he is ahead of schedule.
Maatta, who is also battling mumps, is progressing well, but is still expected to miss another month. His original timeline was “a couple of weeks”, but don’t expect to see him until late January.
Maatta had already been sidelined since December 6th with an upper-body injury and now he has contracted the mumps virus. It has been a brutal stretch for the young blue liner who also recently underwent surgery to remove a tumour from his neck. There is no timetable for Maatta’s return.
According to head coach Mike Johnston said Maatta is still being tested and is going to miss a couple more weeks. With Maatta out, Christian Ehrhoff and Paul Martin will take on bigger roles on the blue line. Expect him to be out until after Christmas.
Maatta’s placement is retroactive to December 6th which means he is eligible to return to the lineup whenever he is healthy. He will miss his third consecutive game tonight, but could be back in the lineup by Monday vs. the Lightning.
Maatta suffered an undisclosed injured in the Penguins win over the Senators on Saturday. With Maatta out, Robert Bortuzzo will draw back into the lineup after a two-game suspension. Maatta is day-to-day.
O’Brien, 20, registered two points (1G / 1A) in 13 games with the Capitals this season. The 6’1”, 210-pound forward signed with Washington as a free agent on Oct. 6 and made his NHL debut on Oct. 9 against Montreal. O’Brien earned his first NHL point on Oct. 14 against San Jose and scored his first NHL goal on Oct. 26 at Vancouver.
