Photo: Matchsticks and Gasoline

The Washington Capitals signed forward Garnet Hathaway to a four-year contract worth an average annual value of $1.5 million, the team announced on Monday. Hathaway became an unrestricted free agent at noon.

OFFICIAL | Capitals have signed right wing Garnet Hathaway to a four-year, $6 million contract#ALLCAPS

Read More: https://t.co/MFfhTIIXqJ pic.twitter.com/F5vWFtKTtH

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) July 1, 2019

In 76 games with the Calgary Flames this past season, the 27-year old posted 11 goals, 19 points, and a +14 rating. He was held scoreless in Calgary’s five-game series loss to the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Capitals likely signed him as a fourth-line forward after their fourth-line combined for just one goal (which came on a penalty shot) in their seven-game series loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

In 175 career NHL games (all with the Flames), Hathaway has posted 16 goals, 40 points, and a +16 rating. He was undrafted.

While averaging 10:32 worth of ice-time per game, including 1:42 on the penalty-kill, Hathaway recorded 36 blocked shots, 200 hits, 23 takeaways, and 29 giveaways this past season.

Garnet Hathaway, 4×1.5m with Washington, is an average forward with some very strong penalty killing results. pic.twitter.com/zCMtEp1s9z

— Micah Blake McCurdy (@IneffectiveMath) July 1, 2019

Prior to the 2017-18 season, Hathaway spent most of his time in the AHL. In 178 career AHL games with the Stockton Heat, he posted 46 goals, 96 points, and a +27 rating. He signed with the Flames out of Brown University, where he was an alternate captain. Hathaway posted 20 goals, 58 points, and a -1 rating in his collegiate career.

By Harrison Brown