Enjoy the desert, Justin Peters. (Caps Outsider)
It was a busy day in the NHL to start free agency. From the clock striking noon to 4:00, NHL teams shelled out approximately $500,000,000 (half a billion) to players; $335 million of that total came in the first hour alone.
Washington did not go after any of the big names like Milan Lucic (Edmonton Oilers), Andrew Ladd (New York Islanders), or James Reimer (Flordia Panthers). Instead, the Capitals went for depth signings to replenish their minor league teams in Hershey and South Carolina.
First up came two of the Development Camp defensemen drafted by Washington, Connor Hobbs (fifth round, 2015) and Colby Williams (sixth round, 2015). Hobbs signed with Washington on a three-year, two-way entry-level contract worth an average annual value of $734,166. The Williams signing was made in conjunction with the Hershey Bears; it is a one-year deal.
Hobbs was also invited to the Team Canada U20 camp today. “It’s [representing his country] one of the best feelings in the world,” Hobbs said. He will return to the Regina Pats of the WHL, where he played on the same defense pairing as Williams, the captain last year.
Then, in a flash, the Capitals signed former Boston Bruin Brett Connolly. Connolly played 71 games last year, all with the Bruins, after only playing five in 2014-15. He scored nine goals and had 16 assists. The former sixth overall pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning is signed for one year on a one-way contract worth $850,000.
In a bulk transaction, the Capitals announced goaltender Joe Cannata, defenseman Darren Dietz, and forward Christian Thomas as new players.
Cannata is 26 and just wrapped up a year with AHL Utica. After a 20-13-6 record with two shutouts, a 2.52 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage in 40 games, the former Merrimack College Warrior started the final two games, including the team’s lone win, in the first round loss to the Albany Devils.
Dietz split time between the St. John’s IceCaps and the Montreal Canadiens. His five NHL points (one goal, four assists) came in 13 games with the Canadiens, making his NHL debut on March 12 against Minnesota. The Medicine Hat, Alberta native scored 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in 61 AHL games.
Thomas started the year on contract with the Canadiens, but got traded to the Arizona Coyotes on December 15 for Lucas Lessio. Thomas has 107 points (52 goals, 55 assists) in 219 career AHL games and three NHL points (one goal, two assists) in 27 career games.
But news soon came of free agents who signed elsewhere. Jason Chimera signed with the New York Islanders for two years, Michael Latta signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Kings, Carter Camper signed a two-way deal with the New Jersey Devils, Justin Peters signed with the Arizona Coyotes, and unqualified free agent Ryan Stanton went to the Colorado Avalanche.
To recap:
PLAYERS ACQUIRED: Connor Hobbs, Colby Williams, Brett Connolly, Joe Cannata, Darren Dietz, Christian Thomas
PLAYERS LOST: Jason Chimera (NYI), Michael Latta (LAK), Carter Camper (NJD), Justin Peters (AZ), Ryan Stanton (COL)
Also, the Caps signed some players, including Tom Wilson, Aaron Ness, Zach Sill, and Paul Carey.
