On Wednesday afternoon, the Washington Capitals announced they had re-signed prospect Travis Boyd to a one-year, two-way contract. The 23-year-old center will make the league minimum of $650,000 at the NHL level and $115,000 if he’s down in Hershey.
In his second full season in the pros after four years at the University of Minnesota, Boyd led the Hershey Bears in points, tallying a career-high 63 in 76 games. Boyd, who was named to the 2017 AHL All-Star game, was honored with a spot on the Second All-Star Team for the league. He has 118 points in 154 career AHL games after being drafted in the sixth-round, 177th overall, in the 2011 Entry Draft.
Boyd was also voted team MVP.
As Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan puts it, the Caps are hungover — minus the victory party. After going all-in the past three seasons, the Capitals knew this offseason was a reckoning for the franchise. Veterans had to go.
In their place, empty roster spots look likely to be filled by the team’s American Hockey League prospects and players making the league minimum or close to it. According to CapFriendly, Washington has just under $6 million to fill out their roster. They currently have 16 players on it. Twenty must dress for a game, usually with an extra forward and defenseman occupying two more spots as reserves. The league maximum is 23 players. Boyd looks like to compete for a spot on that roster when September rolls around.
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The Washington Capitals have re-signed center Travis Boyd to a one-year, two-way contract ($650,000/$115,000), senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.
Boyd, 23, registered 63 points (16g, 47a) in 76 games with the Hershey Bears (AHL) during the 2016-17 season, setting career highs in points, assists and plus/minus (+19). The 5’11”, 191-pound center led Hershey in points and assists last season and was named team MVP. In addition, he finished the season ranked tied for third in the AHL in assists and tied for sixth in points. Boyd was named to the AHL’s Second All-Star Team for the 2016-17 season and represented the Atlantic Division at the 2017 AHL All-Star Classic. The Hopkins, Minn., native has registered 118 points (38g, 80a) in 154 career AHL games with Hershey.
Headline photo: Amanda Bowen.
