Dowd missed Monday's game but was able to play Wednesday. Dowd took a spill at the morning skate and is questionable to play Friday. Brett Leason will make his NHL debut if Dowd can't play.
Rielly was set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season but the extension now carries him through the 2029-30 NHL season. It's been a tough start to the season for Rielly, who is 30th among defensemen in points (66) since the start of the 2019-20 season.
Leason was a second-round pick of the Capitals in 2019 and gets called up after T.J. Oshie was placed on IR with a lower-body injury. Leason has scored 10 goals with 11 assists (21 points) in his last 38 AHL games dating back to the start of last season. It would be his NHL debut if he gets into the lineup on Friday.
Oshie is expected to miss multiple weeks with a lower-body injury that he suffered vs. the Red Wings on Wednesday. Moving him to IR opens up a roster spot for the Capitals to recall Brett Leason from Hershey (AHL).
Kakko has missed the last four games with an upper-body injury but is expected to play Friday vs. the Blue Jackets. When asked after Thursday's practice, Kakko said "I'm ready to play." He'll skate on the second line with Ryan Strome and Artemi Panarin.
Reaves was hurt early in Monday's game vs. the Flames and did not return. Moving Reaves to IR means that the Rangers will not have to make a move to activate Kaapo Kakko, who is expected to return to the lineup on Friday.
