Caps defenseman Matt Niskanen is considered day-to-day with a lower body injury. Although the injury is considered day-to-day, I would rather be cautious with a top defenseman rather than rush him back. While Taylor Chorney will likely get more minutes because of this, the Caps may have to call up someone up from the Hershey Bears.
The first call up would typically be Aaron Ness, but he is out with a lower body injury. Ness was drafted 40th overall back in 2008 by the New York Islanders. Ness registered two assists in eight games last year for the Caps. While in Hershey, he had 27 points in 62 games during the regular season and added another 12 assists in the Bears Calder Cup Final run.
The next logical choice would be another player with a lower body injury – Madison Bowey. Bowey was drafted 53rd overall by the Caps in 2013. So far this season Bowey has nine points in 15 games for Hershey. Last year, he had 29 points in 70 games in his first AHL season. Bowey continued being productive registering six assists in the playoffs.
Both Bowey and Ness are expected to return this weekend. However, if Niskanen does re-injure his lower body, it will hopefully be at a time when the Caps have someone they can call up.
