Iorio Back Skating, Making Progress After Injury Suffered In Capitals' Playoff Run; Funk Joins Bears

The Washington Capitals are seeing one of their prospects take an encouraging step in the right direction, as Vincent Iorio is back skating with the Hershey Bears as he recovers from an upper-body injury he suffered during the Capitals' playoff run.

Iorio was featured on Hershey's Facebook page, skating in a red jersey (indicator for non-contact) and in high spirits.

The 21-year-old blueliner had been skating on the third defense pairing for Washington to open the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs due to injuries to Rasmus Sandin and Nick Jensen and skated just 1:51 minutes in Game 1 against the New York Rangers when he took a hard hit from Alexis Lafreniere that sent him awkwardly into the boards.

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Iorio appeared to hurt his arm or shoulder on the play and was in visible pain as he left the ice at Madison Square Garden in discomfort. Though he took the ice in a non-contact jersey while he was in Washington, he was listed as day-to-day and didn't return.

It is unclear what the injury is, but head coach Todd Nelson told reports that Iorio is still a bit further from returning, via Monumental Sports Network's Tarik El-Bashir . Still, him being on the ice is a major positive for the team.

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Meanwhile, Hershey also got a new addition to the mix, as Capitals prospect Zac Funk signed an amateur tryout agreement to join the Bears for their Calder Cup Playoff run. He joins an impressive pool of Washington prospects who are also with the AHL club as black aces, including Andrew Cristall and Alexander Suzdalev.

Hershey is facing the Hartford Wolf Pack in the Atlantic Division Finals as it continues its run and looks to keep up its title defense.