“Capitals recall Ethen Frank for NHL debut”

The Capitals recalled the forward Ethen Frank from AHL Hershey on Friday, according to a team release. He will make his NHL debut tonight at home against the Canadiens. Washington sent Ivan Miroshnichenko down to Hershey to make room on the active roster, general manager Chris Patrick said.

Frank, 26, is in his fourth season in the Capitals organization after Hershey signed him to a minor league contract from Western Michigan University at the end of the 2021-22 season. The 5’11” sharpshooter received an NHL contract from Washington for the 2023-24 season after scoring 30 goals in 57 games in his rookie AHL appearance with Hershey.

The Nebraska native has continued to establish himself as one of the AHL’s top scorers, totaling 80 goals in 161 games for Hershey over the last four years. He played a key role in back-to-back Calder Cup championships, including 10 goals in 18 postseason games in 2024, and was named to the league’s All-Star Classic in each of his first two full seasons. In his senior season at Western Michigan, he also led the entire NCAA with 26 goals in 38 games.

Frank, who signed a two-year, $1.55 million contract extension in June to avoid restricted free agency last summer, will debut on the third line Lars Eller And Taylor RadyshHead coach Spencer Carbery said. It’s a fitting promotion for Frank, who ranks second in the AHL with 20 goals in 35 games in Hershey this year.

Down goes Miroshnichenko, who has been active in the NHL since mid-November. However, the 20-year-old is increasingly a healthy player and has only played twice since New Year’s Day.

Miroshnichenko, Washington’s 2022 first-rounder, has four points in 18 games during the 2024-25 season and 10 points in 39 games, including last season’s point total. The 6-foot-2 Russian winger averaged just 9:21 per game during his call-up this season.

Miroshnichenko got off to a good start in Hershey before being signed to the Caps’ roster, scoring 14 points in 16 games. He will look to continue that momentum now as he waits for his next NHL opportunity.

The moves leave Washington’s active roster at a maximum of 23 players.