While the Capitals have been busy negotiating and signing many of their pending free agents, it appears there will be at least one that will be leaving D.C. Earlier in the week, it was reported that longtime Capital and pending unrestricted free ageny center Jay Beagle had drawn interest from the Vancouver Canucks. And now, it seems as though the popular Capital will be heading there come July 1.
Per TSN’s Bob McKenzie, Beagle is expected to sign a multi-year deal with the Canucks on July 1, the first official day of free agency. Despite interest from multiple teams, the Canucks are the frontrunners to land the Capitals’ longtime fourth-line center.
Multiple teams in on Jay Beagle but looks like VAN is front runner to land the UFA centre who is expected to leave WSH for a multi-year deal on July 1.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 29, 2018
During his career with the Capitals, Beagle, who signed with the Capitals as an undrafted free agent, has played in 471 games, recording 116 points (51 goals, 65 assists), with a plus-11 rating. Beagle has established himself as one of the league’s best faceoff men, and has earned a reputation as an extremely hard-working player. While Beagle stated that he was willing to wait past July 1 for the Capitals to deal with their other free agents, the presence of younger, cheaper players such as Chandler Stephenson makes him a bit more expendable. By winning the Stanley Cup with the Capitals this past spring, Beagle became the first player to win a championship in the East Coast Hockey League, American Hockey League, and National Hockey League.
By Michael Fleetwood