Capitals get it right with Martin Fehervary

The Washington Capitals have re signed defenseman Martin Fehervary, one of their biggest priorities of the offseason. The leader in hits last season signed a three year contract extension with an average annual value (AAV) of $2.675 million.

The 23 year old recorded 16 points in 67 games with Washington with six goals and 10 assists last season. The six foot four, 204 pound defenseman set a single season career high in assists and led the Capitals in hits with 217.

He also ranked tied for second on the team in blocked shots. He averaged 20 minutes of ice time per game and finished the season with the sixth most minutes played on Washington clocking out at 1,340:01.

During the previous season, Fehervary recorded 17 points with eight goals and nine assists in 79 games, ranking first among rookie defenseman in goals and tied for sixth in points. In addition, his 251 hits led the Capitals and ranked seventh in the NHL among skaters.

Among rookies, Fehervary ranked second in hits and sixth in blocked shots with 117. The Bratislava, Slovakia native also ranked tied for first on the Capitals in games played with 79 and fifth in time on ice per game at 19:39.

During Washington’s First Round playoff series against the Florida Panthers, Fehervary led the Capitals with 38 hits in six games. Since the start of the 2021 22 season, Fehervary ranks fifth in the NHL in hits among defenseman with 468.

Fehervary made his NHL debut at age 19 on Oct. 2, 2019 at the St. Louis Blues. He’s recorded 34 points with 14 goals and 20 assists in 152 career games with Washington. He was selected in the second round at 46th overall of the 2018 NHL Draft.

This move solidifies the Caps defense for this upcoming season. Now Brian MacLellan will shift his focus over to the trade market and try and upgrade the top six forwards. Caps are nowhere near done yet.