Capitals second-round pick Vincent Iorio assigned to AHL

The Washington Capitals provided their AHL affiliate with a little bit more firepower, recalling Vincent Iorio to the Hershey Bears. Iorio was playing with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL but was ousted from the playoffs on Sunday.

Selected 55th overall in 2021, the 19-year-old defenseman experienced a breakout season for Brandon this year. In 60 games he registered 11 goals and 44 points, numbers that eclipsed the totals from his first three WHL seasons. The puck-moving upside that made him such an interesting prospect has started to come more consistently, and the points have followed.

With Hershey set to start its first-round series on Friday night, Iorio represents another option for head coach Scott Allen, one he’ll likely become very familiar with in the coming years. While there’s still work to be done before the young defenseman reaches the NHL level, this season especially has proven that a future with the Capitals is definitely possible.

Despite joining the ranks of professional hockey, Iorio’s three-year, entry-level contract will not kick in for this season. Instead, it will slide forward and keep him under wraps through 2024-25.