T.J. Oshie leaves pre-season game with upper-body injury

Washington Capitals right winger T.J. Oshie left Wednesday’s pre-season game against the Detroit Red Wings with an upper-body injury.

The 35-year-old forward appeared to sustain the injury during the second period, when he was hit awkwardly into the boards shoulder-first by Red Wings center Joe Veleno. While Oshie initially returned to the team’s bench rather than leaving the game immediately following the hit, he looked to be in discomfort, and it wasn’t long before he headed to the locker room with a trainer.

Drafted in the first round (24th overall) by the St. Louis Blues in 2005, Oshie is entering his 15th season in the NHL, having played 900 games over his career. Winning the 2018 Stanley Cup with the Capitals, the 2022-23 season marks Oshie’s eighth with the team. The Washington state native is entering the sixth year of his eight-year contract, which carries an AAV of $5.75 million.

The 2021-22 season saw Oshie appear in 44 games, collecting 11 goals and 14 assists for 25 points in the regular season, and an additional seven points in six games during the playoffs. He missed a significant chunk of the year due to a broken foot and other injuries.

While the Capitals kept their update on Oshie short, they revealed he would not return to the game and would be re-evaluated by the team on Thursday. Post-game, head coach Peter Laviolette confirmed to the media that Oshie’s exit was not just a precautionary measure. Wednesday’s win against the Red Wings improves the Capitals pre-season record to 3-1-1, with their one remaining exhibition game on Saturday.

Washington’s season/home opener is set for Oct. 12 against the Boston Bruins.