The Capitals signed enforcer Joel Rechlicz to an entry-level contract on Monday and promoted him to the NHL. He will accompany the team on its road trip against Tampa Bay and Florida. It was a surprising move considering Rechlicz had played 27 games with the Hershey Bears. But Washington coach Dale Hunter said his team could use the level of toughness provided by Rechlicz, who at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds has 184 penalty minutes in the AHL. That leads that league.
“I found out after the game in Norfolk [Saturday] that I was going to get the opportunity to come up here,” Rechlicz said. “It was very exciting for me. I’m just happy to be here and I’m here to make the most of my opportunity and provide energy on the ice and be here for my teammates.”
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Hunter said it was a game-time decision if Rechlicz would play at all. But hard to believe they would sign him to a contract if the intent wasn’t to play him. He is likely here just the two games. The Caps will need that roster spot when Alex Ovechkin returns from suspension on Saturday against Montreal. That is also a road game, but the team will return to Washington for two days of practice first.
Rechlicz is an interesting character. He still uses a wooden stick – something few, if any, NHL players still do. Teammate John Carlson was spied inspecting the stick during practice on Monday morning. Rechlicz has been using wood sticks since he was 20 and playing for AHL Albany, His coach there, Tom Rowe, now a scout with the Carolina Hurricanes, made the suggestion and he stuck with it.
“I came into the rink one day and I was missing my one-piece Reebok sticks,” Rechlicz said. “And there was a note on my stick rack saying ‘Reck, you got to use these for the next couple weeks.’ Just been using them ever since I was 20 years old. I’m 24 now. I love using them.”
Rechlicz has played in 23 NHL games, all with the New York Islanders in 2008-09 and 2009-10. He has one goal and one assist with the Bears this season and just one goal last year so don’t go expecting any offensive contributions if he does play the next two nights. Over the last three seasons he has three NHL fights and 38 AHL fights. This past preseason he fought Columbus’ Jared Boll.
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