Rapid Reaction: Suzdalev Reflects as Bears Wrap Preseason Games

As the Hershey Bears closed out their preseason schedule on Sunday afternoon with a 6-3 loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Alex Suzdalev showed no signs of exhaustion, despite going back-and-forth between training camps with the Bears and Washington Capitals.

Suzdalev factored into all three of Hershey’s goals, scoring in the first and third while setting up Jérémie Biakabutuka’s strike with just over three minutes left in regulation. He nearly scored again during a breakaway in the second period. This of course, coming only a day after he earned an assist for the Capitals in Washington’s 5-1 exhibition win over the Philadelphia Flyers.

“It was great. You get to play with the big guys here and the Capitals,” Suzdalev said following Sunday’s contest. “It’s a good learning experience, always. Obviously it was a shorter camp, but I tried to soak it in and learn as much as I can, come back here and work from here.”

Bears head coach Derek King believes the third-round pick (70th overall) of the Capitals in the 2022 NHL Draft can make use of all that his time in the American Hockey League has to offer in his development.

“It’s like last year with our young guys in and out of the lineup, we’ve got to develop them the right way, especially October, because we have so many practices [at home],” King said. “So it’s a good opportunity if one of them sits out a game, they’re in the gym, they’re working out, they’re doing all the little things.

“Especially [Suzdalev], I hope he continues to build on what he finished, how he finished last year, and we’ll see where that goes.”

As the Capitals attempt to pare their roster down to the NHL-mandated 23-man limit before the start of the season, several players intended for Hershey are forced to be exposed to potentially getting claimed by other NHL clubs off waivers. While there is always a sense of nervousness for the management and coaching staff, Suzdalev is excited about the potential to have veteran players such as forward Jonny Brodzinski or defenseman Justin Holl (who cleared today’s 2 p.m. deadline) here in Hershey to boost the Bears chances.

“It’s huge for the team. It’s huge for our organization,” Suzdalev said. “Guys coming down like that, they have so many NHL games and you can learn every day from them, ask them questions. So that’s huge for us.”

Written by Bears media specialist Jesse Liebman