With some questions still surrounding their fourth line, the Washington Capitals added an interesting option back to the mix by signing Chris Brown to a two-year, two-way contract. He was one of the team’s few remaining restricted free agents, behind the more noticeable Braden Holtby and Marcus Johansson.
Capitals Sign Chris Brown, Zach Sill As Depth Options
The 24 year old winger was a second round pick of the Phoenix Coyotes and after playing three years at the University of Michigan, spent parts of two season with his original team before being dealt at the trade deadline to Washington along with Rostislav Klesla in exchange for Martin Erat and John Mitchell.
In 22 games at the NHL level, Brown has been far from productive – registering just three points (two goals). At the AHL level, however, he has shown a penchant for putting the puck in the net – scoring 62 goals in 195 games at the minor league level.
A classic example of a ‘tweener’, good enough to be a top line scorer at the AHL level, but not quite good enough to crack the lineup at the next level, Brown found himself bouncing back-and-forth the Capitals at various times last season.
For the upcoming season, with Washington expected to be right around the cap limit for the option, they may be forced to use players like Brown to fill out their roster. Stanislav Galiev is expected to be one of the front runners to nab that final roster spot but Brown could potentially offer the same skill set.
Brown would offer a little more experience, at both levels of professional hockey. Galiev has only played in two NHL games (compared to Brown’s 22), to go along with another 100 in the AHL (195 for Brown).
Whereas both Brown and Galiev bring some offensive punch to the lineup, another signing from Thursday – Zach Sill – brings the exact opposite. Washington signed the 27 year old Sill to a one-year contract to do pretty much one thing – hit. Last season splitting time with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs, Sill averaged 19.65 hits-per-60 minutes played.
Unfortunately for him, that is about all he is going to offer, as in 83 career NHL games, Sill has scored only one goal.
His one-dimensional play will likely force him back to the minors, where he will bring a gritty presence to the Hershey Bears, but does provide an extra option – with NHL experience – should injuries arise.
