The Capitals signed forward Tomas Fleischmann to a two-year contract extension on Wednesday, taking one of their promising prospects off the restricted free agent market this summer.
Entering last night’s game at Atlanta, Fleischmann, 23, had six goals and 15 assists in his first full season with the Caps, including eight points in the last 13 games. The 6-foot-1, 192-pound Czech Republic native has appeared in 54 of Washington’s 58 games and spent most of the season at left wing on the team’s second line.
The deal is worth $1.45 million and pays Fleischmann $725,000 per year.
Fleischmann had minor stints with the Caps each of the previous two years, scoring just four goals in 43 NHL games. But he proved himself at the minor-league level during that time with 52 goals for AHL-affiliate Hershey.
The Caps still have six young players set to be restricted free agents next summer, including defensemen Mike Green (15 goals) and Shaone Morrisonn and forwards Boyd Gordon and Brooks Laich.
NHL players become restricted free agents after their original three-year entry-level contract expires. Those players may either re-sign with the Caps or sign an offer sheet with another team. But the Caps reserve the right to match the offer sheet or take draft picks as compensation.
