Washington signed Calder Cup Playoffs MVP Hunter Shepard to a 2-year contract
With a lackluster free agency class and a flat salary cap, it was going to be a rather quiet day around the league. With Washington already having limited cap space and many roster spots accounted for, the team was quiet on the first day of free agency but still made a few moves.
Joel Edmundson
Washington started the day by sending a third and seventh round pick to Montreal for Joel Edmundson. The Canadiens retained half of Edmundson’s salary in the trade meaning he will cost $1.75M against the cap and has just the 2023-24 season left on his contract. Edmundson is a rugged, stay-at-home defenseman who won the Stanley Cup with St. Louis in the 2018-19 season. Edmundson, 30, missed time in recent years with a back injury.
Max Pacioretty
Washington signed forward Max Pacioretty to a one-year, $2M contract. Pacioretty is coming off a tough year injury wise. Last offseason he ruptured his Achilles before returning mid-season for the Hurricanes. Pacioretty, who will be 35 in November, played in 5 games for Carolina, scoring three goals, before rupturing the same Achilles. In 2021-22, he had 37 points in 39 games for the Vegas Golden Knights.
Pacioretty said in a video press conference that he won’t be ready for the start of the season, but that he hopes to be back not long after.
“All I can do right now is do whatever it takes to come back and be healthy and ready as quickly and come back as strong as possible and that’s the work I’m willing to put in,” he said.
“Max has proven to be a consistent goal scorer in his career and has the necessary skill set to play in every situation,” Capitals general Manager Brian MacLellan said. “We’re confident he’ll be a great contributor to our team at a cap number that suits our club.”
According to CapFriendly, Pacioretty can receive an additional $2M in bonuses if he plays 20 games.
Dylan McIlrath and Hunter Shepard
The Caps signed Hershey captain Dylan McIlrath and Calder Cup Playoffs MVP Hunter Shepard to two-way contracts. Both received call-ups to the NHL last season as the Caps were plagued by injuries. Both would be expected to be depth pieces again in the 2023-24 season.
