Capitals lose Stanley Cup-winning defenseman to injury

The Washington Capitals have placed defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk on injured reserve and loaned veteran center Michael Sgarbossa back to the AHL’s Hershey Bears. With the Capitals embarking on a two-game road trip, team reporter Tarik El-Bashir wrote on X to “expect a call-up ahead of tomorrow’s game at NJD.”

Van Riemsdyk, 32, is out dealing with a lower-body injury. He last played on Nov. 4 against the Columbus Blue Jackets and has been a regular defensive defenseman for the team.

Alexander Alexeyev has taken up the third right-side slot on Washington’s defense with van Riemsdyk out, and is likely to continue in that role while van Riemsdyk recovers.

As for Sgarbossa, he’s been a top center for the Hershey Bears for the last few years. The two-time AHL All-Star has gotten off to a strong start with Hershey, scoring 12 points in 11 games. With Hershey set to play Saturday and Sunday, getting Sgarbossa back to the team will significantly improve their odds of winning.