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Capitals re-sign Liam O’Brien to one-year, two-way contract

By Elyse Bailey

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July 14, 2017 5:09 pm

Friday afternoon, the Capitals announced they re-signed Liam O’Brien to a one-year, two-way contract. O’Brien will make the league minimum, $650,000, at the NHL level and $85,000 at the AHL level for the upcoming season.

O’Brien first landed in the organization after receiving a training camp invite in 2014. The left winger was a sensation during camp, making his NHL debut on October 9, 2014. O’Brien registered a fight in that first game against the Montreal Canadiens’ Brandon Prust and tallied his first NHL point days later against the San Jose Sharks.

The enforcer, who looks a lot like WWE’s Sheamus, had a career year last season in Hershey, tallying a career-highs in points (30), goals (10), assists (20), and games played (64). In his previous 104 AHL games, O’Brien put up only 24 points. The left wing’s play earned him a call-up to the Presidents’ Trophy winning Capitals in January. O’Brien made his season debut January 9 against Montreal, receiving 6:08 in ice time.

O’Brien was the final unsigned restricted free agent in the organization. He will be a candidate to make the Capitals next season after the cash-strapped team lost several veteran players over the offseason.

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ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have re-signed left wing Liam O’Brien to a one-year, two-way contract ($650,000/$85,000), senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.

O’Brien, 22, appeared in one game with the Capitals during the 2016-17 season and has recorded two points (1g, 1a) in 14 career NHL games with Washington. The 6’1”, 215-pound left wing made his NHL debut on Oct. 9, 2014 against Montreal and earned his first NHL point with an assist on Oct. 14, 2014 against San Jose. O’Brien scored his first NHL goal on Oct. 26, 2014 at Vancouver.

The Halifax, Nova Scotia, native recorded 30 points (10g, 20a) in 64 games with the Hershey Bears (AHL) during the 2016-17 season and set career highs in points, goals, assists and games played. O’Brien ranked third on the team in penalty minutes (117) last season, seventh in assists and ninth in points. In addition, he was named the team’s winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Hershey community during the 2016-17 season. O’Brien has earned 54 points (21g, 33a) in 168 career AHL games with Hershey.