The Washington Capitals announced their first signing of the offseason Monday afternoon. The Caps re-signed Hershey Bears forward Shane Gersich to a one-year, two-way contract for next season. Gersich will make $700k at the NHL level and $115k at the AHL level.
The Capitals have also guaranteed Gersich a minimum salary of $125,000.
A tenacious forechecker, Gersich impressed during a three-game regular-season stint with the Capitals after leaving the University of North Dakota in late 2018. Gersich was with the Capitals through their Stanley Cup championship run, suiting up for two postseason games that year.
Gersich arguably took a step back in his development this season in the AHL, recording only 24 points (6g, 16a) in 66 games with the Hershey Bears.
The 2014 fifth-round pick will likely get a long look during training camp in September but has a much larger role waiting for him in Hershey with the potential loss of leading goalscorer Riley Barber.
One has to wonder if the Capitals’ guaranteed minimum salary for Gersich, which is $10k higher than his AHL salary, means they plan to give Gersich games at the NHL level next year. If not, the $10k bonus will serve essentially as a we-really-value-you bonus.
More from the Capitals:
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have re-signed forward Shane Gersich to a one-year contract, two-way contract ($700,000/$115,000, with a guaranteed minimum salary of $125,000) senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.
Gersich, 22, recorded 24 points (6g, 16a) in 66 games with the Hershey Bears (AHL) this season, his first professional season. The Chaska, Minn., native added another three points (1g, 2a) in nine playoff games with the Bears. The 5’11”, 180-pound forward led Bears’ rookies in power play goals (2) and ranked second in points per game (0.36) among Hershey rookies with at least 10 games played.
Gersich made his NHL debut on March 28, 2018 against the New Jersey Devils and appeared in three games last season, recording an assist. Gersich also played in two playoff games, both in the Eastern Conference semifinal against the Pittsburgh Penguins, en route to the Capitals’ 2018 Stanley Cup.
Gersich recorded 29 points (13g, 16a) in 40 games with the University of North Dakota in his junior season in 2017-18, making him the second-highest goal scorer at North Dakota. Gersich also recorded four game-winning goals, tied for the most on the Fighting Hawks last season.
Gersich finished his NCAA career with 77 points (43g, 34a) in 117 games. Gersich was a NCAA All-Star Team Honorable Mention in his sophomore year after leading North Dakota in points (21g, 16a in 40 games), a season that included nine multi-point games. In his 2015-16 freshman season, Gersich’s nine goals ranked third among freshman at North Dakota, and Gersich scored the opening goal in the 2016 National Championship, which led to an eventual 5-1 win.
Gersich played in 52 games for the Omaha Lancers in the USHL in the 2014-15 season, leading the team in points (51), goals (28), power play points (16), power play goals (10) and game-winning goals (5). A product of the United States National Development Program, Gersich recorded 32 points (16g, 16a) in 61 games in the 2013-14 season. Gersich also played in seven games U-18 World Junior Championship, earning a gold medal with Team USA.
The Capitals selected Gersich in the fifth round, 134th overall, in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
Headline photo: Cara Bahniuk
