Alexeyev Returns to Capitals After Concluding Conditioning Stint In Hershey

HERSHEY, Pa. - Alex Alexeyev has returned to Washginton following the end of an long-term injury (LTIR) conditioning loan Tuesday.

LTIR conditioning loans allow a player who has been on a lengthy injury layoff and has been placed on LTIR by their NHL team to be assigned to the American Hockey League (AHL) to shake off some rust and get some game action in.

The Capitals sent Alexeyev to AHL Hershey, officially, prior to October 28's game in Hartford. LTIR conditioning loans can last for three games or up to six days (whichever occurs first). Teams can ask for a two-game extension - and the Capitals did for Alexeyev's loan - which allowed the Captials' 2018-1st round draft pick to appear in opposite ends of a 3-in-3 set of games on Halloween weekend before playing in back-to-back games this past weekend.

Alexeyev was on the ice for an optional skate Tuesday with the Capitals, but he remains on LTIR.

Before Alexeyev's conditioning stint in Hershey ended, he went 1-on-1 with InsideAHLHockey.com in an exclusive interview to update his progress since having shoulder surgery in June and working his way back into game action.

"Getting injured obviously sucks, but I had a really good summer down in Washington and I am in really good shape. I feel awesome. Nothing was bothering me. I feel 100 percent," Alexeyev told InsideAHLHockey.com after his second game on the season, and first on home ice at Giant Center.

Alexeyev, on a two-way contract this season, played in four games for the Bears - including two games in Hershey’s first three-in-three of the season two weeks ago and both games of a home-and-home this past weekend against the Penguins.

In Sunday’s game, Alexeyev showed no ill-effects of the shoulder surgery, unleashing that hard blue-line shot that he is known for around Hershey. And while he may not have scored in his four games with the Bears, he did record an assist Sunday in what just may be his final game at Giant Center.

After the October 30th game where he was a +2, Todd Nelson said Alexeyev had "a very strong game once again. He's a big body that moves the puck. He can skate very well. He looks really good to me. He's one of the top defenders right now."

As for what he’s looking forward to in Washington, well, that’s easy - reuniting with his good friend and fellow member of the 2018 draft class, Martin Fehervary.

"We were having a good time down in Washington. I miss him," Alexeyev said, stating that he can't wait to be reunited with Fehervary.

When the potential living situation was brought up, Alexeyev said that he was "maybe (in the market for) a house" and referenced Belarusian teammate Alexai Protas as another possible roommate to go along with his dog, Goofy.

To some, buying a house might seem a bit premature given the recent Washington transactions, but Alexeyev would have to pass through waivers in order to remain in Hershey. Given Washington's recent history with unsuccessful waiver clearances, that kind of decision hopefully isn't in the cards for Alexeyev.

Additionally, with Washington's injury issues (John Carlson is on injured reserve and Dmitry Orlov is listed as day-to-day), it's possible that Alexeyev could be on the Capitals' blue line as soon as Wednesday night's game against Pittsburgh.

"I think we have a good group of guys, amazing coaches, and amazing staff, so I think we're going in the right direction and it just has to keep going," Alexeyev said.