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Washington Capitals: Top 5 Defensemen Prospects

By Michael Marzzacco

ARLINGTON, VA - JUNE 30:Washington Capitals defensive prospect Connor Hobbs, right, gets hit from behind by center prospect Tim McGauley, left, during the Washington Capitals Development Camp at Kettler IcePlex on Friday, June 30, 2017. (Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, VA - JUNE 30:Washington Capitals defensive prospect Connor Hobbs, right, gets hit from behind by center prospect Tim McGauley, left, during the Washington Capitals Development Camp at Kettler IcePlex on Friday, June 30, 2017. (Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images) /
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Bobby Nardella

MANCHESTER, NH – MARCH 29: Bobby Nardella #27 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish skates against the Clarkson Golden Knights during the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Northeast Regional Championship semifinal at the SNHU Arena on March 29, 2019 in Manchester, New Hampshire. The Fighting Irish won 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, NH – MARCH 29: Bobby Nardella #27 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish skates against the Clarkson Golden Knights during the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Northeast Regional Championship semifinal at the SNHU Arena on March 29, 2019 in Manchester, New Hampshire. The Fighting Irish won 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) /

Bobby Nardella is one of the newest Capitals prospects in the system and a face you’ll see if you choose to attend this week’s Development Camp. This move came just days after defensive prospect Chase Priskie informed the Capitals that he would not return and test the free agent market.

MANCHESTER, NH – MARCH 30: Notre Dame Fighting Irish defenseman Bobby Nardella (27) holds the puck during the Northeast Regional final between the UMASS Minutemen and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on March 30, 2019, at SNHU Arena in Manchester, NH. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, NH – MARCH 30: Notre Dame Fighting Irish defenseman Bobby Nardella (27) holds the puck during the Northeast Regional final between the UMASS Minutemen and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on March 30, 2019, at SNHU Arena in Manchester, NH. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The Capitals signed the undrafted free agent to a two-year, entry level deal on April 5. He is the son of Bob Nardilla, a former AHL player who played in 100 games for the Chicago Wolves and represented Team Italy in 1998 and 2006 at the Winter Olympic Games.

Nardella comes from the University of Notre Dame and just finished his senior year. The 23-year old’s best season came in his fourth year when he scored 34 points (8 goals, 26 assists) in 38 games for the Fighting Irish including a collegiate-career best +/- of +5.

Like the other new prospect Joe Snively, Nardella was also nominated for college hockey’s prestigious Hobey Baker Award. This award is bestowed upon the top player in college hockey. Additionally, Nardella was named to the Big 10 First All-Star team (source: Development Camp Guide).

In 147 total career games with Notre Dame, he finished with 103 points (24 goals, 79 assists) in 147 career games. He made his AHL debut playing in two Hershey Bears games at the tail end of the regular season.

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