Hendrix Lapierre and Ivan Miroshnichenko among seven Capitals sent to Hershey

The Hershey Bears are getting reinforcements for their run to try and repeat as Calder Cup champions.

The Washington Capitals announced on Monday afternoon that they have sent a group of seven players including Hendrix Lapierre and Ivan Miroshnichenko to the AHL after having their NHL postseason ended by the New York Rangers on Sunday night. Hershey’s first series in the AHL playoffs kicks off on Wednesday night against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

NEWS | The Capitals have loaned forwards Hendrix Lapierre and Ivan Miroshnichenko, defensemen Vincent Iorio, Lucas Johansen, Dylan McIlrath and Hardy Haman Aktell, and goaltender Mitchell Gibson to the Hershey Bears. https://t.co/Lh7SujjAnl

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 29, 2024

The Capitals previously sent Lapierre and Miroshnichenko along with goaltender Hunter Shepard to the Bears at the March 8 trade deadline in a paper move so that they’d be eligible for this demotion to play in the AHL postseason. After the 3 pm deadline passed, all three were brought back to the Capitals’ roster.

Lapierre has been up with the Capitals the longest, receiving his most recent actual recall back on February 23. The 22-year-old center officially completed his rookie NHL season, tallying 22 points (8g, 14a) in 51 games for Washington. He chipped in an additional two points (1g, 1a) in the four playoff games against the Rangers.

The 2020 first-round draft selection helped Hershey win the franchise’s 12th Calder Cup last summer, tallying six points (3g, 3a) in 20 AHL playoff games. He recorded 17 points (5g, 12a) in 21 games for the Bears this season.

Miroshnichenko arrived for his latest stint in DC due to an injury Anthony Mantha suffered in late February. The young Russian chipped in his first six points (2g, 4a) in the NHL, getting into a total of 21 games with the Capitals this year. He also received his NHL postseason debut in Game Three against the Rangers.

The 20-year-old winger was a healthy scratch for much of the final stretch run with the Capitals. He returns to Hershey where he had recorded 25 points (9g, 16a) in 47 games. Miroshnichenko retains his NHL rookie eligibility for next season after not playing in more than 25 NHL games.

The two forwards are joined by a quartet of defensemen including Vincent Iorio, Dylan McIlrath, Lucas Johansen, and Hardy Häman Aktell. The four blueliners were all recent arrivals in DC due to a barrage of late-season injuries suffered by Capitals defenders.

Iorio, McIlrath, and Johansen were all also champions with Hershey in 2023. Per Hershey’s Zack Fisch, Iorio will not officially join the Bears’ roster until after he’s fully recovered from the injury he suffered during Game One of the Capitals’ playoff series.

Mitch Gibson is the lone goaltender headed back to Hershey after he served as the Capitals’ emergency third netminder at the end of the season. Gibson played the majority of his 2023-24 campaign in the ECHL with the…