The Washington Capitals have extended 26-year-old left wing Sonny Milano to a three-year contract extension. Milano will make an average of $1.9 million a year on the deal.
OH SONNY DAY
The Washington Capitals have re-signed forward Sonny Milano to a three-year contract extension. Milano’s contract will carry an average annual value of $1.9 million.#ALLCAPS
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 4, 2023
Sonny Milano Extended
The Capitals signed Milano as a free agent on October 16 from the Anaheim Ducks. He had spent parts of three seasons with the Ducks and scored 39 points in 81 appearances. The Columbus Blue Jackets first drafted him 16th overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
Since joining Washington, Milano has 22 points in 40 games, which matches his second-highest total when he scored 22 points in 55 games for Columbus in the 2017-18 season. He recorded 34 points in 66 games for Anaheim last season. Milano played five games with the Capitals’ AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, in late October. He recorded two goals and one assist. The Capitals recalled him to Washington on the 2nd of November. He made his NHL season debut on November 5.
Milano has played throughout the lineup for the Capitals and contributed at even strength across the board. All eight of his goals have come at even strength, which ranks third on the team for even-strength scoring. His 0.98 G/60 and 2.09 P/60 are both career-high figures.
Milano, from Massapequa, New York, has represented the United States since he was 16. In 2013 he was the nation’s leading scorer at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge. He played in two IIHF World Junior Under-20 tournaments and the 2014 Under-18 tournament. Milano was also part of the United States senior World Championship roster in 2018. He scored the goal that claimed gold for the US in the 2014 tournament. He also has bronze medals from 2013, as a member of the Under-17 squad, and the 2018 World Championship.
Where Washington Stands on Contracts
Forward Dylan Strome signed a five-year, $25 million extension on February 3. Now that the Sonny Milano extension is done, the Capitals have five remaining forwards who will become unrestricted free agents at the end of this season. The most notable are Lars Eller and Marcus Johansson. Both players are over 30 years old which contributes to the Capitals having the highest average age in the NHL.
While eight of the forwards are guaranteed to come back next season, all of the Capitals’ current non-injured defenders will be free agents. Alexander Alexeyev and Martin Fehervary are in the final year of their entry-level deals and will be restricted free agents. John Carlson will be with the team for four more years, but he is currently on long-term injured reserve after taking a slapshot to the head just before Christmas.
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