Martin Fehervary Discusses Injury And Mid-Season Switch From Offensive Role to Defensive Role On Blueline

Washington Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary has been sitting idle for the last seven games as he rehabs an injury he sustained against the Calgary Flames on December 4. Not much was publicly reported as to the severity of the injury as the Capitals placed Fehervary on the injured reserve list the following day.

Here’s the hit on Martin Fehervary by Flames winger Milan Lucic in the second period. Fehervary left the ice immediately after and didn’t return. pic.twitter.com/7sXtoojK7n

— Matt Weyrich (@ByMattWeyrich) December 4, 2022

“I’m getting myself together, but I can’t say exactly when I’ll be back yet. The problem is the left hand, but I don’t want to specify. It’s not a serious injury, I didn’t have to have an operation,” the defenseman told LiveSport.cz. “Anyway, it’s unpleasant and we’ll see how long I’ll recover and when I’ll start training with the team.”

It’s been a challenging start to the 2022-23 season for the 23 year-old blueliner, as Fehervary’s role on the team has shifted significantly since the start of training camp. Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette moved Fehervary from the first defensive pairing, where he played with John Carlson and provided more of an offensive role, to the second pairing with Nick Jensen, where he is looked to provide more of a shutdown defenseman role.

“The team didn’t start well, the coaches needed to make some changes and put us together with Jensen to guard the best forwards,” said Fehervary. “I played against the biggest stars, which was a big challenge for me. On the other hand, it’s nice that the coach believes in me. I don’t care where I play. Carlson is played differently, definitely more offensively. Jensen is a great defensive hard worker with whom I understand.”

Fehérváry mentioned before the season that one of his goals was to generate more scoring, but that has yet to fully materialize. He’s cored just twice in 26 games and has just four points. As he admits, one of the reasons is that he has to shoot more often.

“I didn’t shoot much. I told myself that I have to change it. I started shooting more and a few games later I scored a goal. I was fine in the others and then the injury came. It took me a bit off the pace, but I’m confident that when I come back I’ll build on my performances from the last few weeks.”

In Fairness to Fehervary, the switch from the top-pair scoring role to the second pairing defensive role was the result of several other important factors. Defenseman Erik Gustafsson showed an offensive upside in the early part of the season and there was a desperate need that developed to find a better shutdown defensive pairing. As a result, Gustafsson and Fehervary switched places on the blueline.

Fehervary made his first appearance with team on Monday morning, skating in a non-contact jersey.

By Jon Sorensen