Bogdan Trineyev is set to make his NHL debut for the Washington Capitals on Saturday night, stepping into the lineup against the Winnipeg Jets. The 23-year-old winger will receive his jersey from head coach Spencer Carbery, who has opted to make room for him by healthy-scratching Sonny Milano.
Trineyev’s elevation to the Capitals comes as a result of injuries to teammate Ryan Leonard, who has been placed on injured reserve following an injury sustained in early November against the Anaheim Ducks. With Trineyev having served as an NHL healthy scratch for five games this season, this opportunity marks a significant milestone in his career.
In a pregame interview, Carbery expressed his expectations for Trineyev in his first NHL game, advising him to simply “be himself.” He highlighted the winger’s strong performance in the American Hockey League (AHL), where Trineyev has been praised for his all-around game and contributions with the Hershey Bears. “He had a great start in Hershey; our player development coaches rave about just his overall 200-foot game,” Carbery noted.
Trineyev is expected to play on the right wing of the Capitals’ fourth line alongside Brandon Duhaime and Hendrix Lapierre, a former teammate from Hershey. Milano’s absence follows an underwhelming performance where he logged only 6:09 of ice time in a recent game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
As he enters his third full season with the Bears, Trineyev has emerged as a crucial player, especially noted for his role on the penalty kill and involvement in power-play situations. Carbery remarked on the progress Trineyev has made, acknowledging that while he faced challenges in initial training camps due to language barriers, his improvement this year has been notable.
Trineyev currently stands third on the Bears in scoring with 12 points—six goals and six assists—in 16 games, showcasing his readiness for this new challenge. Drafted in the fourth round in 2020, he will wear number 87 for the Capitals, making him the first player to sport those digits since Liam O’Brien from 2015 to 2018.
This debut not only signifies a personal achievement for Trineyev, who has long aspired to compete at this level, but it also underscores the Capitals’ commitment to developing homegrown talent. Puck drop in Winnipeg is scheduled for 7 p.m., and fans are eager to see how Trineyev translates his AHL success to the NHL stage.