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Capitals sign defenseman Bobby Nardella to two-year entry-level contract

By Brennin Weiswerda

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April 5, 2019 1:39 pm

On Friday, the Washington Capitals announced they had signed Notre Dame defenseman Bobby Nardella to a two-year entry-level contract beginning next season.

Nardella was named Notre Dame’s rookie of the year as a freshman and most recently was a Hobey Baker award nominee. The 5’10”, 180 pound defenseman received serious attention from at least three NHL teams, as reported by the Athletic’s Chris Kuc. Nardella was in attendance at Capital One Arena on Thursday night during the Capital’s division-clinching win over the Montreal Canadiens.

Nardella will likely follow the path of the Capitals’ most recent free agent college signing, Joe Snively, and join the AHL’s Hershey Bears on an amateur try-out contract.

The left-handed defenseman just completed the best season of his college career, totaling 34 points (eight goals, 26 assists). He is offensively minded, scoring at least 20 points in all four years.

Nardella has attended several NHL development camps over the years. Most recently, he trained with the Vegas Golden Knights development camp, and before that, the Pittsburgh Penguins development camp in 2017 and Columbus Blue Jackets development camp in 2016. Nardella’s father is Bob Nardella, who is currently an assistant coach for the AHL’s Chicago Wolves.

Nardella made the NCAA Tournament all four years at Notre Dame, becoming part of the first class in Irish history to complete that feat.

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The Washington Capitals have signed defenseman Bobby Nardella to a two-year entry-level contract, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.

Nardella, 22, recorded 34 points (8g, 26a) in 38 games with the University of Notre Dame, setting a collegiate career high in points this season. The 5’9″, 174-pound defenseman led Notre Dame in assists and points and has recorded 103 points (24g, 79a) in 147 career NCAA games. The political science major was named as a Hobey Baker Award nominee this season and was named to the NCAA (B1G) First All-Star Team. A two-time winner of the NCAA (B1G) Championship each of the last two years at Notre Dame, the Rosemont, Ill., native has averaged 0.54 assists per game during his collegiate career. Additionally, Nardella was named to the NCAA (Hockey East) All-Rookie Team and was named as Notre Dame’s Rookie of the Year during his freshman year (2015-16).

Prior to Notre Dame, Nardella played in 108 games in the USHL between the Sioux City Musketeers and the Tri-City Storm, recording 55 points (11g, 44a) in two seasons. During the 2014-15 season, Nardella, as a member of Tri-City, ranked third among USHL defensemen in points (10g, 32a) and was named to the 2014-15 All-USHL Second Team.

At the international level, Nardella represented Team USA at the 2014-15 World Junior A Challenge, recording two assists en route to a gold medal in Kindersley, Saskatchewan. Additionally, Nardella won a silver medal in the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Tournament held in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In 2012, as a member of USA Hockey’s U-17 team, Nardella won a gold medal at the Five Nation Tournament held in the Czech Republic.

Nardella is the son of Bob Nardella, who appeared in 100 games with the Chicago Wolves in the American Hockey League and represented Italy twice at the Olympic Games (1998: Nagano; 2006: Turin).

Header image: @Capitals

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