Washington Capitals acquire a steal in Trevor van Riemsdyk
The Washington Capitals have acquired a steal.
The Washington Capitals continued to make upgrades for right handed defensemen on Saturday night with the addition of Trevor van Riemsdyk. The Caps signed him to a one year deal worth $800,000, a bargain for the type of player they’re going to get. With this move to the defense you have to wonder if someone is about to get traded.
Frank Seravalli was the first to report this news. The 29 year old played in 49 games for the Carolina Hurricanes last season on the third pairing recording eight points with one goal and seven assists. van Riemsdyk had a previous cap hit of $2.3 million per season on his last contract. This is a steal for the Caps who are probably not done yet making moves.
The blue liner has appeared in 26 career playoff games with the Chicago Blackhawks and Hurricanes and won the Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 2015. In 364 regular season games between Chicago and Carolina, van Riemsdyk has recorded a nice 69 points with 15 goals and 54 assists.
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van Riemsdyk was signed by the Blackhawks as an undrafted free agent on March 24, 2014. Prior to that signing, he played in three seasons at the University of New Hampshire from 2011-14 earning NCAA (Hockey East) All Rookie Team honors in 2012. Additionally during the 2012-13 season, van Riemsdyk was named to the NCAA (East) First All American Team.
van Riemsdyk struggled to earn a big role on a crowded defense in Carolina and gets a new opportunity in Washington. He averaged 14:52 of ice time last season. The struggles might be part of the reason why the Caps got him at such a good price. It’s a low cost but a potential high reward.
The Caps made a splash on opening day of free agency by signing Henrik Lundqvist and Justin Schultz for a combined cap hit of $5.5 million. The Caps are now in a spot where they have to move salary and this addition indicates that it could come at the blue line.
Washington now has six defensemen under contract plus the rights of restricted free agent Jonas Siegenthaler which the team is going to likely re-sign. Plus Martin Fehervary is waiting in the wings to make the jump to the NHL.
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Someone will likely go. Is Nick Jensen in trouble or will the Caps move larger salary by shopping Dmitry Orlov? No matter who it is, someone will get moved.