Capitals sign Desharnais, Holl, Brodzinski to contracts
The Washington Capitals may have made their big splash before free agency even started, when they acquired winger Alex Tuch from the Buffalo Sabres and signed him to an eight-year, $84 million deal, but they’re still dipping their toe into this year’s pool of free agents.
The Capitals made three signings on Wednesday. Most notably, they inked defenseman Vincent Desharnais to a four-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $4.2 million.
They also brought in defenseman Justin Holl on a one-year, $900,000 deal, per David Pagnotta.
Capitals sign D Justin Holl to a $900,000 1-yea deal
Finally, they signed forward Jonny Brodzinski to a one-year deal worth $850,000.
The #ALLCAPS signed 33 y/o F Jonny Brodzinski to a 1 year $850K cap hit deal Deal is 1-way Rep'd by Pat Brisson @CAAHockey puckpedia.com/player/jonny-b…
Desharnais, 30, had a goal and six assists for seven points in 53 games for the San Jose Sharks last season. Washington is not bringing him for his offense, however. At 6’7″ and 225 pounds, the Laval, Quebec native is a big-bodied and effective presence that can be relied upon in penalty kill and defensive situations.
Initially a seventh-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Desharnais made his NHL debut for the Oilers in the 2022-23 season, when he played had five assists and a plus-15 rating in 36 games. He signed with the Vancouver Canucks ahead of the 2024-25 season, but was dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins in January of 2025 as part of the deal that sent defenseman Marcus Pettersson to Vancouver, and was subsequently dealt to the Sharks in March of that year.
Holl, 34, is a veteran NHL defenseman that had a goal and an assist in nine games for the St. Louis Blues last season after getting traded by the Detroit Red Wings in the Justin Faulk deal.
Brodzinski, 33, had six goals and 10 assists for 16 points in 55 games for the New York Rangers last year.
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