Iorio elevates game as AHL rookie, Capitals affiliate 1 win from title

HERSHEY, Pa. -- The American Hockey League can be difficult for a rookie defenseman, especially one who did not turn 20 until the season was a month old.

Washington Capitals prospect Vincent Iorio passed that early test and has become of the top defenseman in the AHL. He turned 20 on Nov. 14 and quickly became a go-to option for Hershey coach Todd Nelson.

"It's been a lot of fun," Iorio said of a rookie pro season that has also included his NHL debut and a trip to the Calder Cup Finals. "There have been a lot of ups and downs, but we have a really good group. [Me and the] other rookies are all really thankful that we've had such a great leadership group and having the older guys kind of ease us into the league and help us."

Iorio returned from injury for Game 2 against Coachella Valley (Seattle Kraken) and stabilized Nelson's defensive options immediately. After being shut out in back-to-back losses last week to begin the series, Hershey has rallied to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-7 series with Game 6 at Coachella Valley on Monday.

Iorio, a second-round pick (No. 55) in the 2021 NHL Draft, is paired with Lucas Johansen, another Capitals prospect chosen in the first round (No. 28) of the 2016 NHL Draft. They were on the ice in the final minute of Game 4 to protect an eventual 3-2 win.

It was the latest big assignment in a season that has featured plenty of them for Iorio. He had 22 points (two goals, 20 assists) in 63 regular-season games and has four points (one goal, three assists) in 13 playoff games. His goal against Hartford (New York Rangers) in Game 3 of the best-of-5 division finals helped start a comeback that completed the series sweep.

That type of heavy workload can accelerate a young defenseman's growth, if he is able to handle it and conquer assignments including the penalty kill. Iorio has done so.

"I mean, it's cliche to say, but your confidence grows as you play more games," Iorio said. "You get a little more adjusted to the to the game, the pace, and the players in the league.

"I think defensively, positionally wise, it's gone a lot better. You're getting your feet wet when you're playing your first couple of games, and you don't necessarily know the pace. But I credit that to a lot of the older guys in the back end, [Dylan] McIlrath, [Aaron Ness], Johansen, [Logan] Day, and all of them. They really helped me, and they give me pointers during practice, and I watch them as well."

Iorio has continued to show that he can take on more work. Nelson has given plenty to him.

"He's a big body (6-foot-4, 200 pounds)," Nelson said. "He can kill plays, and he's very mobile where he can skate the puck out of traffic, especially if the puck's behind our net in our own end. He has that ability to lug the mail and get going north, so that's a good asset for our team to have."

Iorio's strong rookie performance also bodes well for the Capitals. Defenseman Matt Irwin is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent July 1. Depending on how Capitals management decides to attack the offseason, there could be opportunities for someone like Iorio to play games next season for Washington, if not land a full-time role there. The right-shot prospect played his first three NHL games and had an assist in his debut at the San Jose Sharks on March 4.

Making the jump to Washington would be a significant step. He made one when he joined Hershey after four seasons playing for Brandon in the Western Hockey League.

"I think just the fact that you're going from junior to pro, it's a huge gap," Iorio said. "[In the WHL], you're the older guy playing against, I guess you could say, younger kids, 16- 17-year-olds. And then the next year you're playing with guys who have kids, and it's a big difference. It's a big jump, and it's a job now."

Hershey vice president of hockey operations Bryan Helmer has spoken with the Capitals this season. Helmer, who won the 1995 Calder Cup with Albany as a New Jersey Devils defenseman prospect in his second pro season, had to wait another 14 years to win it again with Hershey in 2009. Helmer played 20 pro seasons, 146 games in the NHL, and Iorio has earned his attention.

"Just having that confidence is huge," Iorio said of his growth from last September. "Not every rookie season do you get to go on this deep of a playoff run and just to soak it all in. I don't think we as rookies really appreciate how rare this opportunity comes."