TOMAS KUNDRATEK RETURNS FROM CAPITALS

January 23, 2012

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have assigned defenseman Tomas Kundratek to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.

Kundratek, 22, made his NHL debut on Jan. 11 versus the Pittsburgh Penguins at Verizon Center and played in five games with the Capitals this season registering two penalty minutes.

He recorded eight points (six goals, two assists) and 14 penalty minutes in 21 games with Hershey this season after being acquired by Washington from the New York Rangers for Francois Bouchard on Nov. 8, 2011. Prior to the trade, Kundratek collected two assists in seven games with the Connecticut Whale.

The 6’2”, 200-pound defenseman registered 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) and 42 penalty minutes in 70 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack during the 2010-11 season.

Kundratek made his professional debut for the Wolf Pack on April 23, 2009 in Game Five of 2009 Atlantic Division Finals versus Worcester. The native of Prerov, Czech Republic, was drafted by the Rangers in the third round (90th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.