Capitals sign Ryan Hofer

Amid all the trade chaos going on, the Washington Capitals continued to do what this time is all about, stock up on young talent. They signed Ryan Hofer to a three year entry level contract that will carry an average annual value of $851,666.67 in the NHL and $82,500 in the AHL.

The Caps selected the 20 year old with the 181st overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. The six foot three, 192 pound forward has recorded 58 points with 36 goals and 22 assists in 53 gams with the Kamloops Blazers and Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League (WHL) this season.

Hofer was traded from Everett to Kamloops on Jan. 8 and ranks seventh in the WHL in goals, third in face off wins with 706 and shots with 238 and eighth in penalty minutes with 94.

The Headingley, Manitoba native registered a WHL career high 58 points with 25 goals and 33 assists in 67 games with Everett in 2021-22. Hofer ranked sixth on Everett in points and second in penalty minutes with 84 during the regular season and ranked tied for first on the team in playoff scoring with 10 points in six games with six goals and four assists.

In 142 career WHL games with Kamloops and Everett, Hofer has recorded 125 points with 67 goals and 58 assists.

Elite Prospects said this about Hofer in their 2022 NHL Draft Guide:

He pre-scans before getting pucks, deceives by angling his feet in the opposite direction he’s planning to go, and then establishes body positioning. Throws reverse hits with perfect timing, then moves to the inside. He’s mostly a shooter, showing an NHL-calibre in-stride wrister, as well as some off-puck instincts.

Expect more moves like this to come over the course of the next several months. Also expect maybe one or two more trades to occur between now and Friday’s trade deadline. Teams ave until 3 p.m. that day to make moves.