Capitals lock up defenseman for three more seasons

van Riemsdyk was in the second and final year of his two-year contract with a $950,000 average annual value, and was set to become an unrestricted free agent. His new $3 million cap hit will be the highest cap hit of his career, besting his previous high of $2.3 million from his two-year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes.

His new cap hit is comparable to several other players, including Winnipeg Jets’ Dylan DeMelo, New York Rangers’ Ryan Lindgren, Seattle Kraken’s Justin Schultz, and Boston Bruins’ Mike Reilly and Derek Forbort.

van Riemsdyk is having a career year offensively, with seven goals, 12 assists, and 19 points in 66 games for the Capitals. It’s already past his previous career highs, when he had five goals in 2016-17 for the Chicago Blackhawks and 17 points in 2021-22 for the Capitals.

Even without the offense, it’s still an excellent deal for the Capitals, as van Riemsdyk is also one of the better defensemen in the game. van Riemsdyk is tied for second on the Caps in 5v5 expected goals against per 60 minutes with 2.58, and is also third in 5v5 xGF% with 52.03%, showcasing his all-around play-driving skills.

van Riemsdyk was signed by the Blackhawks as an undrafted free agent out of college in 2014, and spent three seasons with them until the expansion draft saw him selected by the Vegas Golden Knights and then dealt to the Hurricanes. He then spent three seasons with the Canes before signing with the Capitals in free agency in 2020.

van Riemsdyk is the second defenseman that the Caps have locked up recently, as they also extended Nick Jensen last week to a three-year deal with a $4.05 million cap hit. They are two of just four NHL-caliber defensemen that are signed beyond this season, joining John Carlson and Rasmus Sandin. They also have forwards Connor Brown, Conor Sheary, Carl Hagelin, and Craig Smith due for extensions as well, all with just over $8 million in cap space for next season.