The Capitals announced the re-signing of two restricted free agents on Tuesday, defenseman Steve Eminger and center Brian Sutherby.
Eminger elected to sign the organization’s qualifying offer. According to sources, Eminger will make $1 million while Sutherby’s contract is for $800,000. Both are one-year deals. The Capitals do not disclose financial terms.
Eminger, 23, was the Capitals’ first-round choice in the 2002 Entry Draft, 12th overall. He has already played in 192 NHL games, scoring one goal with a career-high 16 assists in 2006-07. The 6-foot-2, 217-pounder averaged 18 minutes, 36 seconds of ice time last season and was fourth on the team with 83 blocked shots.
Sutherby, 25, was also a first-round Entry Draft choice, No. 26 overall in 2000. He played in 69 games last season and totaled 17 points. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound center missed the last 10 games of the year with a hand injury. Sutherby stood to make $840,000 by signing the Capitals’ qualifying offer. Instead, he took less money for a “one-way” deal that pays the full salary even if sent to Hershey, the team’s American Hockey League affiliate.
The Capitals also announced the signing of free agent center Jason Morgan, a 30-year-old veteran of five NHL teams. He played last season in the Minnesota Wild organization with the AHL’s Houston Aeros. Morgan appeared in four games with the Wild.
