Liam O’Brien, a 20-year-old left wing who attended the Washington Capitals’ training camp on an amateur tryout, has made the team and could be in the opening-night lineup Thursday against Montreal, coach Barry Trotz said.
O’Brien, who signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Capitals on Monday after four seasons in the QMJHL, played in five of the team’s nine preseason games and had one goal and three assists. He also had 17 penalty minutes, many of which were earned in three fights.
The Capitals assigned him to Hershey on Tuesday, though the decision was merely a technicality for salary cap reasons. Center Chandler Stephenson was recalled to take O’Brien’s spot, but the two players will trade roles again by Thursday.
“If you looked at Liam during the development camp and the rookie camp, he didn’t stand out,” Trotz said. “But when you drop the puck, I mean, it was a different story. He was front and center in a lot of areas and his game didn’t change. When we started playing games up here, his game didn’t change. He’s been able to pick up the pace and [is] feeling more comfortable, and I think he’s earned the respect of the players who have played. He’s become a part of the group.”
If O’Brien is not scratched, which Trotz said is still a possibility, he will find a home on the fourth line at the start of the season.
O’Brien was twice bypassed in the NHL Entry Draft, was returned to juniors twice by the Pittsburgh Penguins and was even traded in May from his previous team, Rouyn-Noranda, to Sherbrooke.
The Capitals rounded out their 23-man roster by placing forwards Tom Wilson and Jay Beagle on injured reserve and by putting defenseman Dmitry Orlov and forward Aaron Volpatti on long-term injured reserve.
Wilson, who is still recovering from a broken left ankle, and Beagle, afflicted by an unspecified upper-body injury, will be eligible to return to the lineup on Oct. 16, or seven days after the opener. Orlov, recovering from a wrist injury, and Volpatti, also bothered by an unspecified upper-body injury, will not count against the salary cap and will be able to return as soon as Nov. 2 against the Arizona Coyotes.
Defensemen John Erskine, Jack Hillen and Nate Schmidt, thought to be battling for two roster spots, also have made the team.
• Zac Boyer can be reached at zboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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