sports
Capitals Add Forwards and Defensemen Ahead of Ovechkin's Return
The Washington Capitals signed multiple players during the NHL offseason, including Jordan Kyrou, Alex Tuch, and Boone Jenner. Alex Ovechkin later confirmed he will return for a 22nd season with the team.
Audio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
The Washington Capitals completed several roster additions this offseason before Alex Ovechkin announced his return for a 22nd NHL season. The team acquired winger Jordan Kyrou from the St. Louis Blues on a contract with an $8.125 million cap hit through 2030-31.
It then completed a sign-and-trade with the Buffalo Sabres for winger Alex Tuch, who signed an eight-year deal with a $10.5 million cap hit.
As free agency opened, the Capitals signed center Boone Jenner to a contract with a $5.75 million cap hit through 2029-30. They also added forward Jonny Brodzinski on a one-year deal worth $850,000, defenseman Justin Holl for $900,000 through next season, and defenseman Vincent Desharnais on a contract with a $4.2 million cap hit through 2029-30.
General manager Chris Patrick told ESPN that the moves were made to improve the team's chances of reaching the playoffs after finishing with the 12th-most points in the NHL last season.
" The 40-year-old forward, who has scored 929 goals in 1,573 games, will return on a one-year, incentive-laden contract. Patrick said the Ovechkin decision was independent of the roster changes. "Ovi or not, to make ourselves a playoff team, we needed to add some more forward talent," he told ESPN.
The Capitals' core includes forward Tom Wilson, center Pierre-Luc Dubois, defensemen Jakob Chychrun and Martin Fehervary, and goaltender Logan Thompson. Younger players such as Ryan Leonard, Aliaksei Protas, Ilya Protas, and Cole Hutson are also part of the group.
