The Washington Capitals added some size and toughness to their backend. Today, on free agent frenzy day, the Washington Capitals announced details of a defenceman Vincent Desharnais contract. Desharnais landed a four-year deal with the club, worth an average annual value of $4.2 million. Let’s chat about what this means for the player and team.
Credit Image: © Alan Sullivan/Cal Sport Media
Defenceman Vincent Desharnais Contract Details As He Signs With Caps
Desharnais is a 30-year-old native of Laval, Quebec, and checks in at 6’7″ and 225 lbs. He can be one of the more imposing forces to face up against in the corners or in front of the net, and a big time asset for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. For Desharnais, despite not a lot of offence, he really arrived on the scene and showed his true value during the Edmonton Oilers 2024 Stanley Cup Final run. That had been his first full NHL season, and in the playoffs that year, he appeared in 16 contests, and was over 17 minutes a game.
All told in his NHL career so far, he has played 218 regular season games, with just two goals and 24 assists for a total of 26 points. However, his toughness has shown, with 336 blocked shots and 370 hits in that time. He is often used in defensive situations, and played a lot on the penalty kill, at times over the course of his career.
Along with bringing in Boone Jenner today, and with guys like Jakob Chychrun and Matt Roy, and now Desharnais, especially on the backend, Washington is trying to establish an identity for head coach Spencer Carbery of not being fun to play against. They have a solid roster constructed, and should be competitive in the Metropolitan Division, despite the uncertainty that seems to come about from the Metro each year. But one thing is for sure, no one is pushing them around in their own zone.
Main Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
