In a significant move, the Washington Capitals have announced the reassignment of forward Brett Leason back to the AHL's Hershey Bears. This decision comes just ahead of the anticipated return of Tom Wilson, who has been sidelined due to a lower-body injury that kept him out for seven games.
Currently, Wilson is still on the injured reserve list but is eligible for activation at any time, especially now that there is an open roster spot following Leason's return to the Bears.
During his second stint with the Capitals and his first since his rookie season in 2021-22, Leason participated in six games without registering any points, averaging about 8 minutes and 34 seconds of ice time per game. In his last appearance with the team, he logged only 5 minutes and 47 seconds against the Panthers, where he was part of the third line that contributed to AJ Greer’s goal early in the first period.
At 26 years old, the winger heads back to Hershey, where he has significantly impacted the team since joining the Capitals in October. In his 20 AHL games this season, he has tallied 14 points, comprising six goals and eight assists. The Bears are currently on a road trip in Charlotte but will return home to face the Hartford Wolf Pack on Tuesday night.
Wilson's last game before his injury was on January 3, when he suffered a hit from Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy, causing him to leave the ice. Without Wilson, the Capitals managed a record of 3 wins and 4 losses. Despite this absence, he remains the leading scorer on the team with 42 points—22 goals and 20 assists—in 41 games played.
The 31-year-old winger has fully engaged in practice since Wednesday, showing readiness to return. Prior to his injury, Wilson had been in excellent form, accumulating eight points—five goals and three assists—in his last three games.
Following a disappointing 5-2 defeat to the Florida Panthers, the Capitals concluded a three-game homestand and are now gearing up for a challenging six-game road trip, starting with a match against the top-ranking Colorado Avalanche on Monday afternoon.
Here’s the complete statement from the Capitals regarding Leason’s loan:
Forward has recorded 14 points in 20 games with Hershey this season
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have officially loaned forward Brett Leason to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), as confirmed by senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick.
Leason, who stands 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 220 pounds, has played six games with the Capitals this season. He has also made a notable impact in Hershey, securing 14 points—six goals and eight assists—in 20 games.
Before joining the Capitals, Leason spent three seasons with the Anaheim Ducks, where he accumulated 48 points—22 goals and 26 assists—in 184 games. Notably, during the 2023-24 season, he achieved a career-best of 22 points—11 goals and 11 assists—in 68 games. Claimed off waivers from Washington on October 10, 2022, Leason ranked fifth among Ducks forwards for shorthanded ice time at 257 minutes and 15 seconds, along with being sixth in hits with a total of 179 across his three seasons.
Hailing from Calgary, Alberta, Leason recorded six points—three goals and three assists—in 36 games with the Capitals during the 2021-22 season. He made his NHL debut on October 29, 2021, against the Arizona Coyotes, concluding that season ranked third among Capitals rookies in games played. He even made his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut on May 5, 2022, in Game 2 of the First Round against Florida.
Across his NHL career, which includes time with both Anaheim and Washington, Leason has participated in 226 games and amassed 54 points—25 goals and 29 assists. Additionally, he has accumulated 61 points—24 goals and 37 assists—in 134 career AHL games while playing for Hershey.
Leason was originally selected by the Capitals in the second round as the 56th overall pick during the 2019 NHL Draft.
