BACK 2 THE BEARS - CHRISTIAN DJOOS

July 16, 2015

The Washington Capitals’ 2012 draft class included a talented crop of prospects, all of which made impacts in the Hershey lineup no matter their number of games played.  Tom Wilson (1st round, 16th overall) burst onto the scene during the 2013 Calder Cup playoffs and scored a thrilling goal for his first in the AHL.  After three games in those playoffs, Wilson appeared in two for the Bears last season – his last, as he has now gone to full-time NHL duty.  Chandler Stephenson (3rd round, 77th overall) really began to hit his stride in the second half of last season and especially in the playoffs, pairing well with Garrett Mitchell and Liam O’Brien to form one of the toughest checking lines in the AHL.  And Connor Carrick (5th round, 137th overall) emerged as the Bears’ leading scorer among defensemen, surpassing the 40-point plateau in 73 games and adding four points in the postseason.  Coming up in 2015-16, defenseman Christian Djoos (7th round, 195th overall) will be one of the players to watch on the Bears’ younger blueline.  Djoos made his debut in the Bears’ regular-season finale against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on April 18, and earned his first professional point with a power-play assist.  Despite his size – he is all of 160 pounds while standing at six feet tall – he is a talented puck-mover and smart decision-maker in his own zone.  He will undoubtedly face his biggest challenge playing against the forwards of, especially, the Bears’ division rivals.  As a left-handed shot, he should thrive under the guidance of veteran Mike Moore and learn the league quickly.  Although no roster spot is guaranteed, it has been reported several times that Djoos should slot in Hershey’s top six defensemen with a good development camp and training camp.