Capitals Recall Osala From Hershey, Reassign Aucoin, Helmer

[VodkaFish]

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have recalled forward Oskar Osala from the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Hershey Bears and reassigned Keith Aucoin and Bryan Helmer to Hershey, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.

Osala (OH-sah-lah), 20, is a first-year pro who stands 6’4”, 225 pounds. He has played in 26 games for Hershey this year and is second on the team and third in the league (first among rookies) with 16 goals. His 22 points rank sixth on the team and he shares the AHL lead at +17
The Vaasa, Finland, native was the Capitals’ fourth-round choice, 97th overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He played for the Espoo Blues in Finland last season and registered 35 points (18g-17a) en route to winning the league’s Rookie of the Year honors. Osala played for Finland in the 2007 World Junior Championship and shared the tournament lead in goals with five.

Osala, No. 48 with Washington, is available to make his NHL debut tonight at home against Boston.

Aucoin, who leads the AHL in points with 36, rejoins Hershey after playing three games with Washington. Helmer, who is the active AHL games played (869) and assists (350) leader, is Hershey’s captain and rejoins the Bears after recording one assist in six games with the Capitals.

[CapsFan99]

Originally Posted by VodkaFish

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have recalled forward Oskar Osala from the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Hershey Bears and reassigned Keith Aucoin and Bryan Helmer to Hershey, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.

Osala (OH-sah-lah), 20, is a first-year pro who stands 6’4”, 225 pounds. He has played in 26 games for Hershey this year and is second on the team and third in the league (first among rookies) with 16 goals. His 22 points rank sixth on the team and he shares the AHL lead at +17
The Vaasa, Finland, native was the Capitals’ fourth-round choice, 97th overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He played for the Espoo Blues in Finland last season and registered 35 points (18g-17a) en route to winning the league’s Rookie of the Year honors. Osala played for Finland in the 2007 World Junior Championship and shared the tournament lead in goals with five.

Osala, No. 48 with Washington, is available to make his NHL debut tonight at home against Boston.

Aucoin, who leads the AHL in points with 36, rejoins Hershey after playing three games with Washington. Helmer, who is the active AHL games played (869) and assists (350) leader, is Hershey’s captain and rejoins the Bears after recording one assist in six games with the Capitals.

can wait to see what the Hershey bears leading scorer can do tonight!

[Spaz]

Osala definitely deserves his shot. The caps seem to rotating through the guys to give all of the deserving ones a shot. Mink gets the call, then Aucoin. The bears are playing so well, that there's a lot of choices.

[caps05]

As an add on to the callup and demotions,

The Caps have signed web site producer Brett Leonhardt to be Brent Johnson's emergency backup tonight due to an injury suffered by Jose Theodore

Interesting. I've heard of this happening in the minors before, but not usually the NHL.

[bigjohnson]

Why can't Keith Aucoin catch a break? They guy proves that he can play in the American League and never gets a fair shake in the NHL. In 461 AHL games he has 465 points. You don't need an Ivy Leage degree to figure out the guy can score. Give him a chance.

[DaleHunter32]

Originally Posted by bigjohnson03431

Why can't Keith Aucoin catch a break? They guy proves that he can play in the American League and never gets a fair shake in the NHL. In 461 AHL games he has 465 points. You don't need an Ivy Leage degree to figure out the guy can score. Give him a chance.

in all fairness when he was called up after all the injuries he really didn't impress me, he had numerous scoring chances, a break away even, and didn't light the lamp. He may be the leading the A in points, but obviously its a different game, and he doesn't really fit any of the current lines to well that Gabby puts out on a nightly basis

[bigjohnson]

very true, only has 2 career NHL points in 18 games. All i am saying is give him a shot. 3 games isnt a true test. i can see the justification of him not fitting in however. In college he had over 77 points in 31 games.