The Washington Capitals have traded forward Beck Malenstyn to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a second-round draft selection (43rd overall) in this year’s draft.
The Capitals made the move official shortly before the second round began on Saturday.
NEWS | The Washington Capitals have acquired the 43rd overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for forward Beck Malenstyn.#CapsDraft | @Verizon pic.twitter.com/Ea2cQcQNp0
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) June 29, 2024
The 26-year-old winger had 21 points (6g, 15a) in 81 games for the Capitals last year. Malenstyn is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer and could earn a big raise.
Washington originally drafted Malenstyn in the fifth round of the 2016 NHL Draft. Last season was the first of Malenstyn’s career spent solely in the NHL after he was a longtime member of the AHL’s Hershey Bears, winning a Calder Cup in 2023.
Head coach Spencer Carbery used Malenstyn on the team’s heavily, defensively-deployed fourth line. Malenstyn was also one of the Capitals’ top penalty killers, averaging 2:37 of shorthanded ice time per game.
Washington now holds two picks in this year’s second round, originally owned by the Sabres and Vegas Golden Knights.
Here’s the Capitals’ press release on the move:
Capitals Acquire Second-Round in 2024 Draft from Buffalo for Beck Malenstyn
The Washington Capitals have acquired a second-round pick (43rd overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft from the Buffalo Sabres for forward Beck Malenstyn
The Washington Capitals have acquired a second-round pick (43rd overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft from the Buffalo Sabres for forward Beck Malenstyn, president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.
Washington now owns their own third (82nd overall), fourth (114th overall), fifth (146th overall) and sixth-round (178th overall) picks, as well as Buffalo’s second-round pick, Vegas’ second-round pick (52nd overall), the New York Islanders’ third-round pick (83rd overall) and Boston’s third-round pick (90th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft.
Malenstyn, 26, recorded 24 points (8g, 16a) in 105 career games with Washington. He was drafted by Washington in the fifth round, 145th overall, in the 2016 NHL Draft.
