Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said after the NHL draft that he would shop around and be aggressive to improve the Washington roster. He followed through, adding four players through free agency and trades on Monday.
Washington’s free-agency haul was headlined by former Ottawa defenseman Matt Roy, who signed a six-year, $34.5 million deal.
“Matt is a steady right-handed defenseman who plays important minutes against the opposition’s top players and is extremely responsible in his own end,” MacLellan said. “We feel his addition will help strengthen our blueline for the next several years.”
The Capitals also signed free agent forwards Brandon Duhaime and Taylor Raddysh while re-signing prospects like goaltender Mitchell Gibson, center Ethen Frank and defenseman Chase Priskie.
MacLellan was also aggressive in the trade market on the first day of free agency, sending defenseman Nick Jensen and a 2026 third-round pick to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for versatile defenseman Jakob Chychrun.
“Jakob is a 26-year-old offensive defenseman who has nearly 500 games of NHL experience,” MacLellan said Monday. “His unique skill set and experience will undoubtedly bolster our blueline, substantially increasing our offensive capabilities.”
Chychrun matched a career-high with 41 points last season while ranking second on the Senators with 154 blocked shots.
“I like to be a two-way defenseman. I like playing all zones, all situations on the ice,” the Florida native said Tuesday. “I’m using my skating ability to play hard, take away time and space from other teams … [I’m] a guy who coaches can rely on.”
Though they boast an array of promising prospects who saw their first taste of NHL action last season, the Capitals aren’t rebuilding. They’re behaving like a team that’s ready to contend.
“It seems like they’ve done a great job retooling on the fly. They’ve been very aggressive; it’s great to see,” Chychrun said. “Obviously, they’re a group that wants to win, and I’m just so excited. A lot of the moves they’ve made, I’ve loved. … It’s a great fit for me.”
The aggressive offseason approach has enticed players like Roy in free agency.
“Every player wants to win. You want to go to a winning team; that was part of my mindset coming into it,” Roy told reporters on Tuesday. “I thought Washington was checking all the boxes and making some good moves toward winning.”
Roy will reunite with his former Kings teammate Pierre-Luc Dubois, who joined the Capitals this offseason. Washington sent goaltender Darcy Kuemper to Los Angeles in exchange for Dubois, who has flashed offensive potential despite inconsistent play.
The No. 3 pick in the 2016 draft underwhelmed last season after signing an eight-year, $64 million contract. With the Kings, Dubois scored just 40 points, his career low for an 82-game season.
But Dubois, like the other new additions, said Washington’s front office energized him.
“It was exactly what you want to hear as a player: How excited they are, how I can help in a lot of ways for this team,” Dubois said last week about his first meeting with Washington’s leadership. “You want to feel welcome. You want to feel like you’re a part of it.”
Since mid-June, MacLellan and the Capitals have been one of the busiest teams in the league. At last weekend’s draft, Washington maintained its bold approach by trading future picks for goaltender Logan Thompson and left winger Andrew Mangiapane.
Time will tell if the offseason transactions pay off, but the newest Capitals say they’re eager to get back on the ice.
“I thought all the guys they brought in were great moves,” Roy said. “I think they’re going to be great additions to the team, and I’m excited for our team next year.”
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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