The Washington Capitals have re-signed center Travis Boyd to a two-year contract worth $1.6 million ($800,000 AAV).
Boyd, 24, recorded one assist and a +2 rating in eight games with the Capitals in 2017-18. He also appeared in Game 6 against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs when Nicklas Backstrom sat out with a hand injury.
The 2011 sixth round pick (177th overall) recorded 15 goals, 47 points, and a -24 rating in 61 games with the Hershey Bears in 2017-18. He led the team with 63 points in 2016-17 when he also had 16 goals. He has 53 goals, 168 points, and a -1 rating in 215 career games in Hershey.
Boyd became a restricted free agent earlier today.
He could replace center Jay Beagle, who reportedly signed a four-year contract worth $12 million with the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday. The Capitals also signed Nic Dowd, who became an unrestricted free agent, to a one-year contract worth $650,000 on Sunday.
Forward Tom Wilson, forward Liam O’Brien, forward Riley Barber, and defenseman Madison Bowey are the team’s remaining restricted free agents while forward Alex Chiasson is still an unrestricted free agent.
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Boyd, 24, played in eight games for the Capitals this season after making his NHL debut against the San Jose Sharks on Dec. 4. Boyd recorded his first career point, an assist, against the Philadelphia Flyers on March 18. Additionally, the Hopkins, Minn. native appeared in one playoff game during the Capitals Stanley Cup run. Boyd recorded 47 points (15g, 32a) in 61 games with Hershey, which ranked second on the Bears and tied for 50th in the AHL. Boyd’s 26 power play points (7g, 19a) led the Bears and he recorded 15 multi-point games.
In the 2016-17 season, Boyd registered 63 points (16g, 47a) in 76 games with the Bears, setting career highs in points, assists and plus/minus (+19). The 5’11”, 185-pound forward led Hershey in points and assists and was named team MVP. In addition, he finished the season ranked tied for third in the AHL in assists and tied for sixth in points. Boyd was named to the AHL’s Second All-Star Team for the 2016-17 season and represented the Atlantic Division at the 2017 AHL All-Star Classic. Boyd has registered 165 points (53g, 112a) in 215 career AHL games with Hershey.
Drafted with the Capitals’ sixth-round pick in the 2011 draft, Boyd played in four seasons for the University of Minnesota and recorded 96 points (32g, 64a) in 148 collegiate games. Boyd won the Big Ten championship in the 2014-15 season and was named to the Big Ten’s Second All-Star Team. Additionally, Boyd won a gold medal for Team USA in the U-18 World Junior Championship in 2011.
By Harrison Brown