The Washington Capitals tendered qualifying offers to two restricted free agents ahead of Wednesday’s deadline (5 PM ET) to issue them. They extended offers to defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler and forward Shane Gersich. Center Travis Boyd did not receive a qualifying offer and could become an unrestricted free agent on Friday at 12 noon ET.
Defensemen Kris Bindulis and Connor Hobbs also did not receive qualifying offers and could become unrestricted free agents. The Capitals could still sign them before Friday too.
After the Capitals re-signed defenseman Brenden Dillon and announced that defenseman Michal Kempny will miss 6-8 months after undergoing surgery on his Achilles tendon, the team will have a hair more than $7.5 million heading into Friday’s opening of free agency barring any trades to spend.
Boyd, goaltender Braden Holtby, forward Ilya Kovalchuk, and defenseman Radko Gudas can all become unrestricted free agents at 12 noon ET on Friday.
By Harrison Brown
what would Kovy want to stay? The Caps never liked Boyd much.
I agree and it is sad that they couldnt have traded him to Vegas rather than Stephenson. Boyd is 27 and there are younger players fighting for his spot, Gersich being one. A little surprised that they are giving up on Hobbs so soon. Probably $1 K or so as he played for $1.13 last year. Would be nice to have him back for 1 full year. But do you bring him back at the expense of giving a younger player his shot? Would not mind having Gudas back for a year or 2 but on a smaller contract.
No doubt. I feel like Boyd is going to pull a Stephenson or Burakovsky. They jettisoned Stephenson to keep Boyd last season. 🙄
Sad. I really liked Boyd. He seemed to have a knack for making those who played on a line with him better.