Lewington is #5 in black. (Photo: Marissa Baecker)

Wednesday night, the Washington Capitals announced the signing of Tyler Lewington to an entry-level contract, which will kick in during the 2015-16 season.

Lewington first came to prominence when he dominated several strength categories at the 2013 NHL Draft Combine. Despite that, he fell to the seventh round of the draft, where the Caps snagged him 204th overall.

Lewington, who captains Medicine Hat in his overage year, was eligible to play for the Hershey Bears this season. Instead he was returned to the Tigers after a strong showing in the NHL pre-season where he showed great maturity and received great reviews from Caps’ head coach Barry Trotz and Bears’ bench boss Troy Mann.

Despite an average build (6-foot-1, 197 pounds), 20-year-old has great strength and physical ability. Though he doesn’t hesitate to throw his body around, he’s a pretty good skater and is smart and mobile enough to keep up with the forwards without taking penalties. Even though he takes care of his own end first and foremost, he is just two points away from tying his WHL career best in points this season.

Lewington is eligible to join the Hershey Bears on a PTO after his junior season is over, though that may not come anytime soon: the Tigers are currently third in WHL’s Eastern conference and may go deep in the postseason.

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The Washington Capitals have signed defenseman Tyler Lewington to a three-year, entry-level contract beginning the 2015-16 season, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.

Lewington, 20, was drafted by the Capitals in the seventh round, 204th overall, in the 2013 NHL Draft and spent the last four seasons with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Lewington registered 38 points (eight goals, 30 assists) and 91 penalty minutes in 60 games with the Tigers this season and has served as the team’s captain. The Sherwood Park, Alberta, native leads Medicine Hat skaters in penalty minutes (91) and ranks first among Tigers defensemen in points and assists.

Lewington registered 38 points (7g, 31a) and 121 penalty minutes in 68 games with Medicine Hat in 2013-14. The 6’1”, 189-pound defenseman finished the season ranked first on the team in penalty minutes, fifth in assists, seventh among Tigers skaters in points and 22nd in the WHL in penalty minutes. In 2012-13, Lewington collected two goals and 24 assists along with 131 penalty minutes in 69 games with Medicine Hat. He led the team in penalty minutes and finished the season ranked 66th on Central Scouting’s final rankings. Lewington made his WHL debut in 2011-12 and appeared in 44 games in his first season.

Lewington will be eligible to join the Hershey Bears (AHL) on a tryout agreement at conclusion of Medicine Hat’s season. Lewington is the third member of the Capitals’ 2013 NHL Draft class to sign with the team, joining Madison Bowey and Andre Burakovsky.