Capitals Recall Joel Rechlicz and Braden Holtby

[Thrillhouse]

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have recalled goaltender Braden Holtby and forward Joel Rechlicz from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.

Holtby, 22, currently owns an 18-11-1 record with a 2.55 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage in 32 games with Hershey this season. He is currently tied for fifth in the AHL in wins and has recorded two shutouts. Last season he posted a 10-2-2 record with a 1.79 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage in 14 games with the Capitals. He became the first Caps rookie goaltender to be named NHL Player of the Week since Jim Carey accomplished the feat during the 1994-95 season. The 6’2,” 203-pound Holtby won his last five starts with Washington and recorded the only assist for a Caps goaltender last season.

The Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, native was the Capitals’ fourth-round choice, 93rd overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. He will wear No. 70 for Washington.

Rechlicz, 24, made his Capitals debut on Jan. 31 versus the Lightning in Tampa Bay and played the following night against Florida. He has recorded one goal, one assist and 198 penalty minutes in 29 games with Hershey this season and currently leads the AHL in penalty minutes. Rechlicz spent last season with Hershey, appearing in 28 games posting one goal and 132 penalty minutes.

The Brookfield, Wisconsin, native has played in 25 NHL games with Washington and the New York Islanders, collecting one assist and 95 penalty minutes. In 107 career AHL games with Albany, Bridgeport and Hershey, Rechlicz has compiled two goals, two assists and 576 penalty minutes. The 6’4”, 220-pound forward originally signed with the New York Islanders on May 6, 2008 and was signed by Hershey on July 29, 2010. He will wear No. 54 for the Capitals.

[fcm]

They would not need of Rechlicz if John Erskine was doing his enforcing job correctly.

[Golden Gloves22]

Originally Posted by fcm

They would not need of Rechlicz if John Erskine was doing his enforcing job correctly.

Erskine is a solid defensemen, although I agree he should fight more cause he is a bad dude when he throws, his main job is a 2/3/4th D-man....They need a Rechlicz to strictly fight the other teams fighter, and hell having Erskine AND Rechlicz aint a bad thing at all!

[caps87]

Wahoo, I get to watch Wrecker sit on the bench again. Yay.

Originally Posted by fcm

They would not need of Rechlicz if John Erskine was doing his enforcing job correctly.

Hard to do from the press box or playing 7 minutes a game. Enforcer isnt his main job anyway.

[NewNHLHater]

Rechlicz is the old school text book enforcer. Saturday night was the perfect example, one of the Sharks took a run at a team mate and Rechlicz went right after the guy and didn't give him a choice to fight or not. Then later in the game he fought their HW and put a pretty good whoopin in him. Problem Rechlicz is going to have in the NHL is the refs are completely different in the NHL. If Rechlicz would have done that in the NHL he would have gotten the Bettman 2,5 and 10 bonus. In the AHL they gave him an extra 2 for high sticking.

As I said in thlast thread when he was signed and called up Rechlicz fights any one, any time and they are all wide open fights. The dude just seems like he loves to fight.

Hopefully this time he'll actually find someone to fight.

[chilly666]

Originally Posted by Golden Gloves22

Erskine is a solid defensemen, although I agree he should fight more cause he is a bad dude when he throws, his main job is a 2/3/4th D-man

??? he's a 3rd pairing guy at best which is a 5/6 guy

[Stevens Lindros]

Originally Posted by caps87

Wahoo, I get to watch Wrecker sit on the bench again. Yay.



Hard to do from the press box or playing 7 minutes a game. Enforcer isnt his main job anyway.

That's what pure enforcers do, and we love them for it. Odd teams to call him up for though, Caps play the Sharks, Panthers, and Lightning next...

[caps87]

Originally Posted by Stevens Lindros

That's what pure enforcers do, and we love them for it. Odd teams to call him up for though, Caps play the Sharks, Panthers, and Lightning next...

When Hunter blabbers on about creating energy and toughness, its definitely annoying to watch Rechlicz skate two shifts. Yeah Dale, he created a whole lot of energy. Let the guy run around and create havoc. He takes a dumb penalty, then maybe you sit him. Why even call him up to play for a minute and change?

[NewNHLHater]

Originally Posted by Stevens Lindros

Odd teams to call him up for though, Caps play the Sharks, Panthers, and Lightning next...

I agree. He played against the Panthers and Lighting his first two games and didn't have any takers.

Anyone know if he'll be in tonight? He was a scratch last night in Hershey so I'm wondering if they knew then.

[ThrowdownSJ408]

so glad Recker is up against the sharks! maybe he will go with murray.

i love erskine but hes a 6th or 7th dman now. hes older.

[Stevens Lindros]

Originally Posted by ThrowdownSJ408

so glad Recker is up against the sharks! maybe he will go with murray.

i love erskine but hes a 6th or 7th dman now. hes older.

No surprise, Murray wouldn't go.

[Stevens Lindros]

Hunter explaining + Clowe being an asshole

Hunter said that decision was based on the Caps’ last visit to San Jose on Jan. 7, when Sharks winger Brad Winchester nailed Alex Semin along the boards, prompting Alex Ovechkin to take a roughing minor.

“(Winchester) ran over Semin and Ovi had to jump in last game,” Hunter said. “Winchester wasn’t a factor out there tonight.”

Neither, apparently, was Rechlicz, who took two shifts, saw 1:30 of ice time and was slapped with a 10-minute misconduct for challenging the San Jose bench,

“He was chirping pretty good and pretty long,” Sharks forward Ryane Clowe said. “I guess the ref wanted to take care of things.”

Clowe was well aware that in three NHL games Rechlicz has played a total of 5:56 and is still looking for his first fight

“Has the guy hit the 5-minute mark in ice time?” Clowe wondered.

[illukka]

i never thought the sharks to be cowards but seems they are..

does someone have a vid of wrecker challenging the bench? that would be awesome to see

[Matt Doom]

Originally Posted by illukka

i never thought the sharks to be cowards but seems they are..

does someone have a vid of wrecker challenging the bench? that would be awesome to see

I don't think so, NBC wasn't showing it when it happened

[NewNHLHater]

It's pretty frustrating as a fight fan when a team calls up their tough guy and then nobody will fight him. I'm starting to blame the fighters that are in the league for the demise of fighting just as much as the league.

Saturday night Rechlicz just lit up the Sharks AHL affiliate HW Jimmy Bonneau. Here's a link to the thread where the video is posted. Worcester at Hershey 2/11/12