Photo: Sports Illustrated

Washington Capitals defenseman Christian Djoos was awarded a one-year, $1.25 million contract by a neutral arbitrator on Wednesday. Djoos, who became a restricted free agent on July 1, and the Capitals presented their cases to that neutral arbitrator at 9 AM ET on Monday morning in Toronto, Ontario.

NEWS | Christian Djoos has been awarded a one-year contract with an average annual value of $1.25 million by an independent arbitrator.

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) July 24, 2019

The Capitals will accept the verdict and re-sign Djoos.

According to Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post, Djoos’ camp filed for a $1.9 million cap hit while the Capitals countered with one of $800,000.

Djoos, 24, posted a goal, 10 points, and a +9 rating in 45 games during the regular season. He missed 23 games in the middle of the year due to thigh surgery. When healthy, Djoos rotated with Jonas Seigenthaler on the third defensive pair for a majority of the time before the Capitals acquired Nick Jensen from the Detroit Red Wings on February 22. He was held to just a -3 rating in three games during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Djoos also played two games with the AHL’s Hershey Bears on a conditioning stint in February.

The Capitals selected Djoos with the 195th overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft. In 108 career NHL games (all with the Capitals), Djoos has recorded four goals, 24 points, and a +22 rating.

Djoos recorded an assist and a +5 rating in 22 Stanley Cup Playoff games during the Capitals’ run to the Stanley Cup in 2018.

He can become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights again on July 1, 2020.

The Capitals are currently $314,294 over the NHL salary cap with forward Chandler Stephenson, who also became a restricted free agent on July 1, left to re-sign. Stephenson, 25, is set to have an arbitration hearing on August 1. His camp and the Capitals can reach a contract agreement at any time between now and then, which would cancel the hearing. The Capitals may be forced to move out a contract by the time the 2019-20 season starts. They currently have 22 players under contract for this season.

By Harrison Brown