NHL
Vincent Desharnais Out 4–6 Weeks After Appendectomy
Washington loses a defenseman who had played every game and averaged more than 19 minutes this season.
Washington Capitals defenseman Vincent Desharnais is expected to miss four to six weeks after an appendectomy, the team reported Friday.
Desharnais had appeared in all nine Washington games this season, recording three assists. His average ice time of 19 minutes, 25 seconds ranked third among Capitals defensemen, according to the NHL’s 2026-27 team statistics.
Only Jakob Chychrun, at 24:38 per game, and Martin Fehervary, at 21:58, had averaged more minutes on Washington’s defense. Cole Hutson was next behind Desharnais at 18:50 per game. Desharnais also averaged 22.7 shifts per game, trailing only Chychrun and Fehervary among Washington defensemen.
Matt Roy had appeared in three games, averaging 18:07. Justin Holl and Dylan McIlrath had also played three games each, while Desharnais, Chychrun, Fehervary, Hutson and Timothy Liljegren had played nine apiece.
The absence follows Washington’s 5-2 loss to Los Angeles on Tuesday, which left the Capitals at 5-4-0. Washington hosts Buffalo on Saturday.
