Washington Capitals Report Card: Nic Dowd

Washington Capitals newcomer Nic Dowd  signed a one-year contract at the beginning of the season after playing one season for the Vancouver Canucks.

Nic Dowd was signed to fill in the fourth line center role replacing longtime Capital and fan favorite Jay Beagle. Dowd lived up to expectations and had a great impact in his first season with the Washington Capitals

Dowd finished the year with 22 points (8 goals, 14 assists) and added a goal in the playoffs on a penalty shot. Dowd was coming off a career worst last year with only tallying four points all year playing for both Los Angeles Kings and the Vancouver Canucks.

Dowd also had prior success in the minor leagues playing for the Manchester Monarchs averaging 46 points a year during his two year time before his NHL debut.

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Dowd had a career high in points tying his personal best of 22 that he also did his rookie season with the Kings in 2016-2017 season.

The Capitals has expectations of him being a fourth line/scratch guy going into the year while the team had an open competition for the spot while bringing in players such as Mike Sgarhttps and Jayson Megna. Dowd beat both of them out, and had a great impact on the season playing a similar game as Beagle.

Dowd was an excellent penalty killer all year, played with a lot of grit, was great playing along the boards and had a great face off win percentage of 51%. Dowd average 10 minutes of ice time for the year which is normal for a player in a fourth line center role.

Dowd also finished the year with a plus/minus of 10, and was showed great defense while in the neutral zone. Dowd’s speed was great for the Capitals cycling the puck on offensive breaks, and showed great vision setting up his line mates for goals.

The Capitals also gave Dowd a three-year extension averaging $750,000 a year at the end of the regular season proving they wanted to keep him around since he was contributing to a lot of success during the season.

Grade C+: The 29 year old native of Huntsville, Alabama proved he can be an NHL player after not having a great season last year, and was questionable of starting this year in Hershey. Hopefully the success of this season boosted his confidence going into next year, and turn him into a 20+ goal scorer, or at least put him in the 35 points a season range similar to Beagle before his time in Washington ended.