Garrett Pilon

July 2023 – Pilon has been essentially languishing in the Capitals’ system as the NHL team appeared to have little faith in giving him a legitimate NHL shot, which in turn likely attributed to his staying lower than they potentially could have been. He scored 10 points in 20 games on route to the Bears’ Calder Cup championship. Pilon became a UFA and signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Ottawa Senators as he has a legitimate shot to make the Sens roster. Pat Quinn

January 2023 – Pilon’s play this season feels a little uninspired as it appears as though he knows he will never get a legit shot in Washington so his play is reflecting that. He has dealt with injuries this season so that may affect how his play looks too. Pilon has 13 points in 20 games as he sits sixth in points per game and 10th in team scoring. The good news for Pilon is that he has one-way contract money this season. He also has arbitration rights as an RFA so he may get another guaranteed contract from Washington or another team make take a shot on hi this off-season. Pilon’s NHL chances seem slim though. Pat Quinn

September 2022 – Pilon played in two NHL games but spent a majority of his time again in the AHL, which he appeared frustrated with according to his social media early in the 2021-22 season. That could likely account for his AHL totals this year, with 42 points in 60 games, but the Bears were also (again) one of the lowest scoring AHL teams. On a majority of other NHL teams Pilon would have been given a shot by now but on Washington that has not been the case, and the prospect is likely getting frustrated. He is in the prospect region of “potential NHLer” but if he does not get any real NHL time he could easily slide to career AHLer / overseas star. The 2022-23 NHL season at least sees Pilon with one-way contract money, and he will be eligible to be claimed off of waivers, but it is unknown if any team will claim him. There is still middle-six potential there. Pat Quinn

January 2022 – With 22 points in 27 games Pilon is not over a point per game like the previous season (all 14 games worth) but he is still a top scorer for Hershey. Pilon even got in two NHL games seeing around nine minutes of ice time and scored a goal, on his only shot. When Pilon in comfortable in a new league he shoots a lot, so if he has almost no shots he is not comfortable. In the AHL he is shooting just under three shots per game. It is no real secret Pilon wants an NHL chance and he will get that next season as his contract is one way. Pat Quinn

October 2021 – Pilon has taken his strong AHL play from the previous year and has seemingly improved to start this season. I have found that once Pilon shoots a high amount he really gets a league and puts up a good amount of points, currently he has 20 shots in five games, and he is in the top 10 of shots in the AHL. The Capitals likely want him to play, but do not want to risk losing him on waivers so if they call him up they may want to keep him up for good, but it appears that players put on waivers just return to their teams anyway (lately at least). Pilon is an under the radar good prospect and should be owned in keeper leagues. Pat Quinn

September 2021 – Pilon had a good training camp and exhibition play but was put on waivers for the purpose of being sent to Hershey. Hopefully he makes it through as he is starting to play better and better. Pat Quinn

March 2021 – Pilon is excelling for the Bears this season as he is finally being trusted with a top six centre spot. He is leading the team in points with 11 points in 11 games, and is second on the team in shots with 28 despite just two goals. His points per game have increased every year from 0.46, to 0.59, to now a point per game. If he keeps this up the Capitals will have a problem on its hands with too many contracts on the roster as Pilon may be too skilled to keep down. Pat Quinn

August 2020 – Pilon was invited to Capitals training camp for the restart of the season but was ultimately not invited to Toronto. At least he got in some good training with the Capitals but they prefer a more grinder-style line up. Pilon will likely wait until the NHL/AHL training camp starts to hopefully make the Capitals full-time, but with Washington’s contract issues it might be a tough bet. Pat Quinn

March 2020 – In his final 22 games, before the season was cancelled, Pilon posted 17 points, and that includes a four game pointless streak at the end. If Pilon can bring this production to 2020-2021 in the AHL then there is no way the Capitals can keep him from the roster in 2022, well unless they sign more depth players to long-term deals. It has been exciting to see Pilon force his way in to the Bears’ top six as Hershey routinely plays vets over developing young forward talent. Pilon does have the ability to play as a middle six winger in the NHL. Pat Quinn

January 2020 – Pilon started super slow for the Bears in the first two months, with eight points in 21 games, but in December Pilon posted eight points in 11 games. It was like something clicked for him and he began forcing the coaching staff to give him more ice time. So far in January he has two goals in three games and hopefully the production will increase. Pat Quinn

October 2019 – Pilon has started slowly in Hershey with three assists in eight games. When you look at the Bears’ line up it is quite veteran heavy and mixes all lines pretty evenly. He has not played worse than the previous season but he also has not wowed anyone. At least he is progressing nicely.  Pat Quinn

September 2019 – Pilon played well in training camp but was never able to push a one-way contract out of the line up, and really that was the only way to make the Capitals roster. He will now start in the AHL where he will look to build upon his 2018-2019 season total of 33 points in 71 games.  Pat Quinn

June 2019 – Pilon just kept getting better and better through out the full AHL season and playoffs with low ice time. He finished with 33 poins in 71 regular season games and five assists in nine playoff games. Going forward the Capitals need Pilon to pan out as the organization believes there is a good NHL play-maker in there. He will require a few more seasons in the AHL though. Pat Quinn

March 2019 – Pilon has been decent in his first AHL season, playing a skilled third line centre role for the Bears. He has a respectable 26 points in 61 games as he learns the professional leagues. Since January Pilon has 15 points in 27 games showing that he is getting more acclimated, not to mention the Bears have defensemen who can move the puck again. The biggest issue for Pilon so far is his abysmal shot rate, as he has only 83 shots in 61 games and scored his first goal December 8, 2018. For a player who led the WHL is shots for 2017-2018 this is disappointing, but as he showed in the WHL he picks up the shot rate as his comfort with the league grows. Pat Quinn

September 2018 – Pilon will be a member of the Bears this season and looks to build on his WHL career. The Bears do not have a ton of scoring depth so it is unknown where he will play in the line up, but he should suit up as a centre. Pat Quinn

May 2018 – Pilon took another large step forward in the CHL this season. Once he was on the Silvertips Pilon posted 36 points in 30 games, but his big breakthrough happened once the playoffs rolled around. In the WHL playoffs Pilon posted 28 points in 22 games and finished fifth in points as his Silvertips ended up losing in game six of the championship finals. Pilon led the WHL regular season in shots with  343 and if he keeps shooting totals like that the Capitals will have an NHL player in a few seasons. Since Pilon is not eligible for the AHL in 2018-19 it is likely he will be back dominating the WHL before joining the AHL the following year as the Capitals are still too deep up front (and have other players in the AHL waiting their turn) for him to get a legitimate shot. Pat Quinn

January 2018 – Pilon was traded at the WHL trade deadline from the Kamloops Blazers to the Everett Silvertips as the Silvertips look forward to the playoffs and a possible memorial cup appearance. In his 39 games for the Blazers Pilon had 44 points, his best point per game average to date, and in four games with the Silvertips he has four goals and two assists. There is likely not going to be enough top nine room for Pilon next season, unless he really blows everyone away, so expect another WHL season then AHL as he begins to adapt to a faster and bigger game. Pilon does have the hands and IQ to carve out a professional career. Pat Quinn

June 2017 – Pilon’s second season for the Kamloops Blazers was a successful one, as he upped his point total to 65 in 67 games beating the previous years total of 47 points in 71 games. He is being relied on more for scoring with Kamloops and should be counted on even more next season, his third in the league. Pilon needs to use his shot more as he tends to over pass on many plays, giving up prime scoring chances for a pass to another player. For Pilon to progress he will need to take on more of a selfish role and begin finishing the chances he creates. Pat Quinn

December 2016 – Pilon has taken a step forward this year with added responsibility for the Kamloops Blazers. He curretly has 32 points in 32 games, good for third overall on the team, beating his 0.66 points per game from the previous season where he was not counted on as much for scoring. The knock on him this season is that he does not shoot the puck enough, or have a strong enough shot at the moment, as out of his 32 points he has five goals. Pilon still runs the powerplay as he has high hockey IQ, but if he is not a threat to shoot then covering him in the AHL/NHL leagues will be much easier, making his road longer and tougher to the NHL. Pat Quinn

September 2016 – Pilon finished the 2015-2016 WHL season with 47 points in 71 games on a pretty deep Kamloops Blazers squad. He has not been sent back to the WHL as of yet but all indications point to him returning for this season and likely a couple more. Pilon needs to bulk up more as he has a smaller frame, and learn the two way responsibility that all professional centres have to join the show. He is a high IQ player who plays the point on the power play and knows what to do with the puck, whether that includes making a play in tight or firing off his great wrist shot. With a younger squad in Kamloops, Pilon needs to step up and lead on the score sheet as he is one to watch. Pat Quinn