The Washington Capitals signed defenseman Alexander Alexeyev to a three-year, entry-level contract worth an average annual value of $925,000, the team announced on Monday evening.
Capitals have signed defenseman @Alexeyev04 to a three-year entry-level contract. #ALLCAPS https://t.co/bcZCcCQKrn
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 24, 2018
The Capitals selected the 18-year old Russian 31st overall in this past year’s draft.
Last season, Alexeyev tallied seven goals, 37 points, and a -3 rating in 45 games with Red Deer. He also represented Russia at the World Junior Championships last December but was held off of the scoresheet in three games played.
The scouting report on him entering the draft was that he was a very good top-four, two-way defenseman but does not raise his game enough when he needs to. Scouts were projecting him to be two years away from cracking an NHL lineup.
Alexeyev tallied four assists in the three prospect tournament games for the Capitals in Estero, Florida earlier this month but would make plays that would work in the WHL but not the NHL. Still, Alexeyev looked very good in the prospect tournament.
Alexeyev participated in Capitals’ training camp this past week and was cut in the second wave of roster cuts but not because he was playing poorly. Alexeyev made his Capitals’ debut in a 5-2 loss to Boston Bruins on home ice last week and was impressive, recording the primary assist on the Capitals’ opening goal of the game and set a tone with his physicality.
He scored in back-to-back games to kick off the season with Red Deer. (More here).
Alexeyev was not hesitant to spill his new deal as he announced that he signed his first NHL contract with the Capitals before the team did.
I am so honored and happy to signed my first NHL contract with great organization @capitals proud to be part of it , I wanna say thank you to everyone ho helped me to get to this point ,my friends ,my teammates , coaches , trainers , my agency and especially my family #allcaps pic.twitter.com/cMdiuBvSR0
From Capitals’ Release
The Washington Capitals have signed defenseman Alexander Alexeyev to a three-year entry-level contract, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today. Alexeyev’s contract will carry an average annual value of $925,000.
The Capitals selected Alexeyev with the 31st-overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft.
Prior to the NHL Draft, Alexeyev, 18, was ranked ninth overall among North American defensemen by NHL Central Scouting. The St. Petersburg, Russia, native spent the 2017-18 season with the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Alexeyev led Red Deer defensemen with 37 points (7g, 30a) and recorded 29 penalty minutes in 45 games. The 6’4″, 199-pound defenseman also added another five points (2g, 3a) in three playoff games.
In 86 career WHL games, all with Red Deer, Alexeyev has recorded 58 points (11g, 47a) and 53 penalty minutes.
Video: #ALLCAPS All-Access | Alexander Alexeyev’s Draft Day
Alexeyev has represented Russia at the 2016 Under-18 World Championship and the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial. Additionally, Alexeyev recorded four assists in six games during the Under-17 Hockey Challenge in 2015 en route to winning a silver medal.
During the 2018 Prospect Showcase in Estero, Fla., Alexeyev led the Capitals in assists (4) and tied for first in points among defensemen in the showcase. In his NHL season debut against the Boston Bruins on Sept. 18, Alexeyev recorded an assist.
By Harrison Brown