After struggling over the last year-plus to Make The Big Move, Brian MacLellan put on his chef hat from his war room in Las Vegas and absolutely went off on Day 1 of Free Agency, transforming the Washington Capitals’ roster and completing a dizzying amount of moves that began with the acquisition of centerman Pierre-Luc Dubois on June 19.
Seven new players have arrived to the Capitals — four via trades and three via free agency — while five regulars on Washington’s 2023-24 roster have departed during the two weeks. (Slide the Instagram embed to the right to see.)
“We’re gonna shop around and see what we can find,” MacLellan said heading into July 1. “Yeah, we’re good.”
The Capitals’ roster is no longer an underripe green banana. Now it’s a <ding!> saucy lasagna dish with multiple intriguing layers to it.
Here’s a quick summary of all the newest Caps and how the team might look on Opening Night if there are no other major changes.
Extras: Ethen Frank, Bogdan Trineyev, Ethan Bear, Alex Alexeyev
Note: Roster put together with TJ Oshie and Nicklas Backstrom on LTIR.
Jakob Chychrun added via trade
Brian MacLellan’s first move on Monday came in the form of acquiring defenseman Jakob Chychrun from the Ottawa Senators and sending back Nick Jensen and a 2026 third-round draft pick.
The Capitals have held interest in Chychrun since the Arizona Coyotes shopped him at the 2023 trade deadline. In 82 games for the Senators last season, Chychrun recorded 41 points (14g, 27a).
Chychrun, a 26-year-old, left-handed defenseman, has one year remaining on his current contract at a $4.6 million cap hit. Just over a year ago, Ottawa had to deal a conditional first-round pick, a conditional second-round pick, and an additional second-round pick to acquire Chychrun from the Coyotes.
Matt Roy signed to six-year contract
Washington’s first dip into free agency was a big one, signing former Los Angeles Kings defenseman Matt Roy to a six-year, $34.5 million deal.
Roy is a 29-year-old, right-handed shooting rearguard, who had spent his previous six seasons in LA. During the 2023-24 campaign, he primarily skated with Vladislav Gavrikov on the team’s second pairing, notching 25 points (5g, 20a) in 81 games.
Per the Capitals, Roy set a career-high in average ice time (20:59) during the 2023-24 season, led Los Angeles in shorthanded ice time per game (2:51), and led them in blocked shots (197). He ranked second among Kings blueliners in points, ice time per game, plus-minus (+21), and hits (152). Roy’s 197 blocked shots last season were the seventh most in the NHL last season, while his 230:48 of shorthanded ice time was the 14th-highest total in the league.Taylor Raddysh signed to one-year contractThe Capitals then addressed their bottom-six forward group by adding Taylor Raddysh via a one-year, $1 million contract.
Raddysh, 26, recorded 14 points (5g, 9a) in 73 games with the rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks last season. He had a stronger 2022-23, scoring 20 goals and tallying 37 points.
While the six-foot-three forward was set to become an RFA this offseason, the Blackhawks opted not to tender him a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent. The Capitals signed Dylan Strome under similar circumstances in 2022, bringing him in after Chicago declined to qualify him.
Brandon Duhaime signed to two-year contract
MacLellan continued to address his bottom six by signing the hard-hitting, rugged Brandon Duhaime to a two-year, $3.7 million deal.
Duhaime spent the past four seasons in the NHL with the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche. In 80 games last season, he recorded 13 points (5g, 8a) and threw 208 hits which was good for 29th best in the NHL. Among his new Capitals teammates, only Tom Wilson recorded more hits last year (228) than Duhaime.
The 27-year-old winger was also a big penalty killer for both the Wild and Avalanche, averaging 1:54 of shorthanded ice time per game. Additionally, Duhaime is no stranger to dropping the gloves. Over the past three seasons, he has gotten into 22 fights.
Pierre-Luc Dubois added via trade
Headed into free agency, MacLellan made several huge moves, no bigger than acquiring Pierre-Luc Dubois from the Los Angeles Kings for goaltender Darcy Kuemper. Dubois immediately gave the Capitals depth at the center position and helped the current pivots slot better.
The Quebec native struggled in his first year with the Kings, playing under huge expectations for a player being paid $8.5 million against the salary cap. In 82 games, PLD managed just 40 points (16g, 24a). However, Dubois is also just one season removed from setting his career high in scoring, 63 points (27g, 36a), with the Winnipeg Jets.
Dubois, who has past connections to players and coaches on the Capitals, is excited to potentially play with Alex Ovechkin and help him accomplish more history. The French Canadian has mentioned in past interviews that he loves the style Russians play with.
The 26-year-old, former third-overall pick is locked up through the 2030-31 campaign after signing an eight-year, $68 million extension with the Kings in 2023.
He’ll wear number 80 in an incredible tribute to a former teammate.
Andrew Mangiapane added via trade
The Capitals continued adding to their top-six forward group after acquiring Dubois by sending the Calgary Flames a 2025 second-round pick for winger Andrew Mangiapane.
Mangiapane recorded 40 points (14g, 26a) in 75 games for the Flames last season. He has one year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $5.8 million. He also holds a modified no-trade clause that allows him an 8-team, no-trade list.
The 28-year-old winger spent parts of the last seven seasons with Calgary, posting his best individual stats during the 2021-22 campaign when he amassed 55 points (35g, 20a) in 82 games.
Logan Thompson added via trade
After moving Kuemper out west, the Capitals were left with an open goaltending spot in the NHL. On the second day of the 2024 NHL Draft, Washington added netminder Logan Thompson from the Vegas Golden Knights in a trade for two third-round draft picks.
Thompson appeared in 46 games for Vegas last season, posting a 25-14-5 record with a 2.70 goals-against average, a .908 save percentage, and one shutout. Thompson has one year remaining on his contract with a cheap $766,667 cap hit.
The 27-year-old netminder was formally in the Capitals’ system with the South Carolina Stingrays during the 2019-20 season. He also participated in Capitals Development Camps in 2018 and 2019 where Aliaksei Protas was once his roommate.
Departing the Capitals
With all of the incomings, the Capitals needed to say goodbye to five players that featured on last year’s roster.
Darcy Kuemper, Beck Malenstyn, and Nick Jensen were traded to the Kings, Sabres, and Senators respectively. Additionally, wingers Nicolas Aube-Kubel and Max Pacioretty became unrestricted free agents. Aube-Kubel has signed with the Sabres.
At the AHL level, the Hershey Bears also said goodbye to forward Jimmy Huntington who signed an NHL contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
