The 2026 NHL Draft has now come and gone, and it is time for teams to shift their focus to the next offseason item: bringing back pending free agents.
The deadline to make decisions on pending restricted free agents (RFAs) has come and gone, and the Washington Capitals have made their choice with their RFAs.
The Capitals elected not to qualify forward Ryan Hofer, or goaltenders Garin Bjorklund and Jesper Vikman. All three of them will become unrestricted free agents on Wednesday (Jul. 1).
Hofer, originally selected by the Capitals in the 2022 NHL Draft, spent the majority of last season with the ECHL's South Carolina Stingrays, where he scored two goals and added 15 assists for 17 points. He had one assist in 11 games with the Hershey Bears in the American Hockey League (AHL).
Bjorklund posted a 5-9-3 record with a .876 save percentage and 3.72 GAA in the AHL. In eight games with the Stingrays, he posted a .935 save percentage.
Vikman, acquired as part of the Nic Dowd trade with the Vegas Golden Knights, played just one game in the Capitals' organization as he dealt with injuries. In that one appearance, he stopped 13 of 14 shots in a win for the Stingrays.
The Capitals have some flexibility to make moves when free agency opens, but it seems as though they are keping the rest of their plans this offseason fairly under wraps. It's safe to assume they have an idea of what Alex Ovechkin plans to do, whether that is retire or return for the 2026-27 season, which could alter the Capitals' plans for the rest of the summer.
For now, the Capitals have had a solid offseason, and while it is always tough to let players walk, these three didn't seem to be part of any long-term plans, and they are getting every chance to get a new opportunity elsewhere.
Add us as a preferred source on Google