July 1st is here, which means NHL free agency has officially begun, and the Washington Capitals have lost Van Riemsdyk after he signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins for 2 years at 4 million dollars AAV. Van Riemsdyk has been with the Capitals since 2020.
In 2025-26, the 34-year-old defenseman had 3 goals, 11 assists, and 14 points in 68 games for the Capitals. Trevor van Riemsdyk was a depth defenseman for the Capitals, often playing on the 3rd line pairing. He averaged 16 minutes with the Capitals last season and provided a strong backbone on defence.
The former Capitals defenseman could play on both sides. With the Capitals, he often played on the right side, so with him gone, the Capitals' right-side defensemen now consist of Matt Roy, Timothy Liljegren, and Dylan McIlrath. While the Capitals' defensive right side needs a little upgrade, losing Trevor van Riemsdyk may not be the biggest loss, as with him being 34 years old, he is on the back end of his career, and while he put some of his best career numbers with the Capitals, it may be better for them to move on.
If the Capitals can add another right-handed defenseman, whether through a trade or a free-agent signing, it will allow them to once again have strong defensive depth. Losing Trevor van Riemsdyk will not have the greatest impact on the Capitals, but if they do not make any changes or additions to their right side on defence, it may be an issue come the start of the 2026-27 NHL season. While some Capitals fans may miss Trevor van Riemsdyk, the value of his contract and his age did not make sense for the Capitals to re-sign him, as they are trending towards more youth in their lineup.
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