The Caps continued to add to their roster on the first day of free agency by adding depth forwards Jonny Brodzinski from the New York Rangers and Joshua Dunne from the Buffalo Sabres. Both will count $850,000 against the salary cap, respectively. They then signed 34 year-old defenseman Justin Holl to a one year $900,000 contract. These are depth signings to fill out the roster, with the Caps now a little thin at center and having lost a defenseman to injury and another via trade.
Brodzinski, 33, played in 55 games for the Rangers last season, scoring 6 goals and 10 assists and has a career faceoff percentage of 50.1, according to hockey-reference.com. The Capitals need to improve at the faceoff dot next season, where Brodzinski can help. (It’s also one of the reasons they signed up Boone Jenner.)* He was drafted by Los Angeles in the 5th round of the 2013 draft. He has played in 264 games and has 71 career points. He has also played for the San Jose in 2019-20.
The 27 year-old Dunne signed with Columbus in 2021 as a free agent after playing college hockey for Clarkson. He played in 50 career NHL games, most of them at center, including 34 last seasons for the Sabres. He finished with 1 goal and 3 assists.
Justin Holl takes the place of Declan Chisholm as the Caps extra defenseman. He was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2nd round of the 2010 NHL draft. He has played in a career 405 games for Toronto, Detroit, and St. Louis. The 34 year-old rear guard has amassed 14 goals and 83 assists for 97 career points.
Brodzinski and Dunne will have the chance to make the roster in September but will have to compete for a roster spot. They will factor into the forward mix on the fourth line or as an extra forward. There are spots open now that Brandon Duhaime signed with the Maple Leafs and Hendrix Lapierre was traded to Pittsburgh. They will have their work cut out for them. There are a number of Caps prospects that could make make a case for the opening night roster come October.
Andrew Cristall almost made the team the past two training camps and put together a stellar rookie season in Hershey. Terik Parascak has turned heads with his play last season in juniors. There are also Ivan Miroshnichenko and Anthony Beauvillier that will be fighting for a roster spots. There will also be a few last minute free agent signings and camp invites in the weeks leading up to the start of training camp. Â
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