Centre Matt Herr played parts of two seasons with the Washington Capitals in the late 90s. He was eventually traded to the Philadelphia Flyers and remained on their organizational depth chart as the 2001-02 season began.
Herr was born in Hackensack, New Jersey and was drafted 93rd overall by the Caps in 1994 after scoring 102 goals in four seasons with Hotchkiss Prep high school. He then accepted a scholarship to the University of Michigan and helped the Wolverines win the NCAA championship in 1996.
Herr averaged just over eleven minutes in 30 games as an NHL rookie with Washington in 1998-99. He also spent significant time working on his defensive game and consistency with the AHL's Portland Pirates. The young pivot was used in 22 games by the Caps in 1999-00 but they opted to send him to Philadelphia for young blueliner Dean Melanson at the March, 2001 trade deadline. Herr played well for the Philadelphia Phantoms of the AHL and hoped to get another big league opportunity.
