The Washington Capitals have declined to sign two of their draft picks from the 2018 NHL Draft, Alex Kannok-Leipert and Eric Florchuk, by the June 1, 2020 deadline.

The Capitals drafted Kannok-Leipert 161st overall and Florchuk 217th overall in the sixth and seventh rounds.

The #Caps have declined to sign Alex Kannok-Leipert and Eric Florchuk by the June 1, 2020 deadline to do so, and those players will be removed from the team's reserve list as of today at 5 p.m.

— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) June 1, 2020

Kannok-Leipert, a defender, was the captain of the WHL’s Vancouver Giants, scoring three goals and 22 points in 62 games. Florchuk, his teammate after a midseason trade from the Saskatoon Blades, scored 21 goals and had 57 points in 58 games.

According to NHL.com, the signing window for drafted players depends on the junior or European league that holds their rights (in the season leading up to his NHL Draft eligibility). For players who play junior hockey in Canada (OHL, WHL, and QMJHL), they must be signed to an entry-level contract within two years (June 1) or those players can re-enter the NHL Draft or become an unrestricted free agent.

Four of the other five picks that season, Alex Alexeyev (first round), Martin Fehervary (second round), Kody Clark (second round), and Riley Clark (third round), have signed entry-level contracts while fourth-round pick, goalie Mitchell Gibson, is playing college hockey at Harvard University. The Capitals hold Gibson’s rights through the duration of his NCAA eligibility.