The Capitals re-signed forward Joe Snively on Wednesday to a two-year, $1.6 million deal that will keep him in Washington through the end of the 2023-24 season, the team announced.
Snively, a Herndon, Va. native, became the first player in Capitals history from Virginia to play for the team. He grew up in the area and played in the “Little Caps” program in Arlington, Va.
The 26-year-old forward tallied four goals and three assists in 12 games this season, which was his first in the NHL. He is currently on long-term injured reserve with a wrist injury.
Before his call-up to the Capitals, he’d scored 15 goals with 23 assists in 35 games with AHL Hershey. He was set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2021-22 season.
"Joe is a versatile, skilled forward, and we are extremely pleased with his development this season," Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said in a press release. "Joe has worked hard and put himself in a position to earn a spot on our team. It is a great testament to him and all the local youth hockey coaches and programming in our area that guided him along through this journey."
Snively’s addition to the roster next season will come cheap, at just an $800,000 cap hit for two years.
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The signing leaves the Capitals with 14 forwards, five defensemen and zero goalies on the NHL roster for next season (including Carl Hagelin, whose long-term prognosis remains unclear after a serious eye injury).
Per CapFriendly, that would leave Washington projected to have a shade over $9 million in cap space entering the 22-23 season with two goalies to sign and two defensemen to add.
But for now, Snively’s addition to the lineup signifies a trust from management and the coaching staff in what he brought this season, and can bring, to the Capitals moving forward.