HUNTER SHEPARD NEWS

Dropped to minors Shepard was assigned to AHL Belleville on Sunday.

Impact The Senators recalled Leevi Merilainen from the minors in a corresponding move. Shepard has appeared in two games this season as Ottawa's backup goalie, including Saturday's 4-3 overtime loss to Montreal, but he hasn't had any NHL action yet.

NOVEMBER 2 • ROTOWIRE

Called up from AHL Shepard was recalled from AHL Belleville on Saturday.

Impact Shepard was recalled last week and then sent down without seeing any NHL action. Shepard was 2-2-0 with a 3.02 GAA and a .906 save percentage in four AHL appearances before his recall. The Senators sent Leevi Merilainen to Belleville in a corresponding move.

NOVEMBER 1 • ROTOWIRE

Hunter Shepard returns to Belleville | Ottawa Senators Leevi Meriläinen won his first NHL game of the season on Monday

OCTOBER 28 • NHL.COM

Sent back to minors Shepard was loaned to AHL Belleville on Tuesday.

Impact Shepard was brought up from the minors Monday, but he'll return to Belleville in short order. The Minnesota native was summoned to the big club in order to give Linus Ullmark the night off, as Leevi Merilainen was in goal for Monday's 7-2 win over Boston. Shepard is 2-1-0 with a .910 save percentage and a 2.69 GAA over three appearances in the AHL this season.

OCTOBER 28 • ROTOWIRE

Called up by Ottawa Shepard was recalled from AHL Belleville on Monday.

Impact Shepard was sent to the minors ahead of the regular season, but he'll rejoin the Senators ahead of a back-to-back set to begin the week. However, Shepard is expected to dress as a backup over the team's next two games, as Leevi Merilainen will serve as the starting netminder Monday against Boston, while Linus Ullmark will start in Chicago on Tuesday.

OCTOBER 27 • ROTOWIRE

Sent back down Friday Shepard was reassigned to AHL Belleville on Friday.

Impact With just one preseason game remaining, Shepard's services were no longer required for the NHL club, especially since it still has three netminders on the roster. At this point, Shepard seems to be firmly cemented as the No. 4 option for the club, which means he faces an uphill battle to even make the lineup for an NHL game this year. As such, don't expect him to offer much, if any, fantasy value this year.

OCTOBER 3 • ROTOWIRE

Recalled Wednesday Shepard was promoted from AHL Belleville on Wednesday.

Impact Shepard will likely serve as the backup for one or both of the Sens' final two preseason games before he is sent back to the minors. With both Leevi Merilainen and Mads Sogaard available to back up Linus Ullmark, it would take a significant rash of injuries for Shepard to log a game for Ottawa this year.

OCTOBER 1 • ROTOWIRE

Waived Thursday Ottawa put five players on waivers Thursday, including Shepard, per James Mirtle of The Athletic.

Impact Cameron Crotty, Wyatt Bongiovanni, Xavier Bourgault and Garrett Pilon were also waived by Ottawa. None of those players were expected to make Ottawa's Opening Night roster, and all of them are projected to spend most, if not all, of 2025-26 in the minors. The 29-year-old Shepard had a 2.80 GAA and an .891 save percentage in 39 regular-season appearances with AHL Hershey in 2024-25.

SEPTEMBER 25 • ROTOWIRE

Agrees to one-year deal Shepard signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Senators on Wednesday.

Impact Shepard had a 2.80 GAA and an .891 save percentage in 39 regular-season appearances with AHL Hershey in 2024-25. He's appeared in five career regular-season games at the NHL level, posting a 2-2-1 record, 3.94 GAA and .866 save percentage. Shepard is expected to start 2025-26 in the minors.

JULY 2 • ROTOWIRE

Dropped down to minors Shepard was reassigned to AHL Hershey on Monday.

Impact Shepard will trade places with Clay Stevenson, who was promoted to the NHL roster in a corresponding move. For his part, the 29-year-old Shepard has made just one NHL appearance this year in which he gave up seven goals on 26 shots (.731 save percentage) in a loss to Columbus.

APRIL 14 • ROTOWIRE

Jumped by Jackets Shepard made 19 saves in Saturday's 7-0 loss to the Blue Jackets.

Impact With Washington having the top seed in the Eastern Conference locked up and resting both Alex Ovechkin and Charlie Lindgren ahead of the playoffs, Shepard didn't get a lot of help against a Columbus squad fighting for its life. It was the first NHL appearance of the season for the 29-year-old netminder, and while Lindgren will likely get the nod Sunday in a rematch with the Jackets, Shepard could be between the pipes for one of the Caps' two remaining regular-season games next week, Tuesday against the Islanders or Thursday against the Penguins.

APRIL 13 • ROTOWIRE

Jumped by Jackets Shepard made 19 saves in Saturday's 7-0 loss to the Blue Jackets.

Impact With Washington having the top seed in the Eastern Conference locked up and resting both Alex Ovechkin and Charlie Lindgren ahead of the playoffs, Shepard didn't get a lot of help against a Columbus squad fighting for its life. It was the first NHL appearance of the season for the 29-year-old netminder, and while Lindgren will likely get the nod Sunday in a rematch with the Jackets, Shepard could be between the pipes for one of the Caps' two remaining regular-season games next week, Tuesday against the Islanders or Thursday against the Penguins.

APRIL 13 • ROTOWIRE

Starting in Columbus Shepard will patrol the visiting crease in Columbus on Saturday, per Bailey Johnson of The Washington Post.

Impact Shepard will make his first start since he was promoted from AHL Hershey on April 4. Shepard was 22-11-3 with a 2.81 GAA and an .891 save percentage over 37 appearances with AHL Hershey this season. The Blue Jackets are registering 3.17 goals per game, 11th in the NHL in 2024-25.

APRIL 12 • ROTOWIRE

Capitals goalie Logan Thompson is expected to miss at least a couple of games with injury

Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson is expected to miss at least a couple of games because of injury, coach Spencer Carbery says

APRIL 4 • Associated Press

Promoted from minors Shepard was recalled from AHL Hershey on Friday.

Impact The decision to bring up Shepard from the minors likely means that Logan Thompson (upper body) won't be available versus the Blackhawks on Friday. As such, fantasy players should probably be expecting Shepard to serve as the backup to Charlie Lindgren against the Hawks. A back-to-back against the Blue Jackets on April 12 and 13 could give Shepard the chance to start his first NHL game this year -- assuming Thompson isn't back by then.

APRIL 4 • ROTOWIRE

Sent down Saturday Shepard was reassigned to AHL Hershey on Saturday, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.

Impact With Charlie Lindgren coming off IR, Shepard will return to the AHL. Shepard served as Logan Thompson's backup in Washington's last four contests, though he's yet to see any game action in the NHL this year.

JANUARY 18 • ROTOWIRE

Back with Caps Shepard was recalled from AHL Hershey on Saturday, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.

Impact Shepard will rejoin Washington with Charlie Lindgren (upper body) landing on IR. The 29-year-old Shepard made four appearances with the Caps earlier this year, going 2-1-1 with an .894 save percentage.

JANUARY 11 • ROTOWIRE

Waived by Washington Shepard was placed on waivers by the Capitals on Sunday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.

Impact Shepard missed the end of the preseason due to a lower-body injury and will be left off Washington's Opening Night roster. He made four regular-season appearances for the Capitals last year and posted a 2-1-1 record, 3.18 GAA and .894 save percentage.

OCTOBER 6, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Dealing with lower body injury Shepard wasn't on the ice for Wednesday's practice session due to a lower body injury, Bailey Johnson of The Washington Post reports.

Impact The severity of Shepard's injury isn't clear, but he was being evaluated by the Capitals' medical staff during Wednesday's practice. The 28-year-old started in Washington's preseason loss to the Bruins on Sept. 24, but if he's healthy for the start of the regular season, he'll likely head to the AHL, where he's had plenty of success.

OCTOBER 2, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Between pipes Tuesday Shepard will guard the road crease in Tuesday's exhibition contest versus Boston, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News reports.

Impact Shepard will play the entirety of Tuesday's preseason game. The 28-year-old is one of the AHL's top netminders -- he's won consecutive Calder Cup championships with the Hershey Bears. Shepard will likely be limited to the AHL again this year, barring injury, after Washington traded for Logan Thompson to form a tandem in net with Charlie Lindgren. Shepard was 2-1-1 with an .894 save percentage and a 3.19 GAA in four regular-season appearances with the Capitals in 2023-24.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Defending crease Sunday Shepard will patrol the home crease in Sunday's preseason matchup against Philadelphia, according to Tom Gulitti of NHL.com.

Impact Shepard had a 2-1-1 record with a 3.19 GAA and an .894 save percentage in four regular-season outings with Washington in 2023-24. He is expected to split Sunday's contest with Clay Stevenson. The 28-year-old Shepard will likely begin the 2024-25 campaign in the minors, but he must clear waivers to be sent down.

SEPTEMBER 22, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Hershey Bears beat Coachella Valley Firebirds 5-2 in Game 2 to even AHL's Calder Cup final

Hunter Shepard made 32 saves, Jimmy Huntington and Pierrick Dubé scored late in the second period and the Hershey Bears beat the Coachella Valley Firebirds 5-2 on Sunday night in G...

JUNE 16, 2024 • Associated Press

Hershey rapid reaction: Bears 5, Lehigh Valley 1 (Giant Center) Hunter Shepard stopped 30 shots and Bears forward Ethen Frank ignited the offense with a pair of goals.

MAY 5, 2024 • PENNLIVE.COM

Reassigned to AHL Shepard was sent down to AHL Hershey on Saturday.

Impact Shepard was recalled when Darcy Kuemper tweaked something during practice Wednesday, but Kuemper was well enough to back up Charlie Lindgren on Thursday and Friday. Shepard is 4-2-1 with a 3.18 GAA and an .894 save percentage at the NHL level this season.

APRIL 6, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Back in NHL Shepard was recalled from AHL Hershey on Thursday.

Impact Shepard has a 2-1-1 record, 3.18 GAA and .894 save percentage in four appearances with Washington this season. Darcy Kuemper tweaked something during Wednesday's practice, per Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press, and while that might not lead to Kuemper missing time, Shepard was summoned for precautionary reasons.

APRIL 4, 2024 • ROTOWIRE