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Capitals sign forward Brandon Duhaime to two-year, $3.7 million deal

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The Washington Capitals added a few bottom-six forward pieces to their roster on the first day of NHL free agency.

Shortly after signing forward Taylor Raddysh away from the Chicago Blackhawks, the Capitals added Brandon Duhaime with a two-year, $3.7 million contract.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was the first to report the deal.

Duhaime is a hard-hitting winger who has spent the past four seasons in the NHL with the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche. The 27-year-old, Florida native was dealt by the Wild to the Avalanche for a third-round draft pick at the 2024 trade deadline.

In 80 games last season, Duhaime recorded 13 points (5g, 8a) and threw 208 hits which was good for 29th best in the NHL. Among his new Capitals teammates, only Tom Wilson recorded more hits last year (228) than Duhaime.

Duhaime was a big penalty killer for both the Wild and Avalanche, averaging 1:54 of shorthanded ice time per game. He has two shorthanded goals in his career.

 

The six-foot-two-inch, 200-pound forward is also no stranger to dropping the gloves. Over the past three seasons, Duhaime has gotten into 22 fights.

Duhaime has been friends with new Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychurn since the two were children. Both grew up in the same area of Florida.

Duhaime also has past connections to the Capitals through his father, Trevor. Washington selected the elder Duhaime in the ninth round of the 1991 NHL Draft.

Trevor never played a game for the Capitals but did feature once in the AHL for the Baltimore Skipjacks.

Washington needed additions to their bottom six with wingers Nicolas Aube-Kubel and Max Pacioretty departing as unrestricted free agents and Beck Malenstyn dealt to the Buffalo Sabres. General manager Brian MacLellan said the club would consider internal options to fill those holes but has added Duhaime and Raddysh on Monday.

Here’s the Capitals’ full press release:

Capitals Sign Brandon Duhaime

27-year-old forward joins Washington on a two-year contract

The Washington Capitals have signed forward Brandon Duhaime to a two-year, $3.7 million contract, president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today. Duhaime’s contract will carry an average annual value of $1.85 million.

Duhaime, 27, recorded 13 points (5g, 8a) in 80 games with the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche in 2023-24. The Coral Springs, Florida native averaged a career-high 10:52 of ice time per game, while his 208 hits ranked 20th among all NHL forwards. In addition, Duhaime finished the season ranked fifth among NHL right wings in shorthanded ice time (151:21).

Originally drafted by Minnesota in the fourth round (106th overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft, Duhaime recorded a career-high 17 points (6g, 11a) in 80 games with the Wild in 2021-22. The 6’2”, 200-pound forward has recorded 40 points (20g, 20a) in 211 career games with Minnesota and Colorado. In 23 career playoff games, Duhaime has scored one goal.

Duhaime spent two seasons with the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League (AHL) from 2019-21, where he recorded 29 points (12g, 17a) and 103 penalty minutes in 87 games. Prior to signing with Minnesota, Duhaime recorded 72 points (22g, 50a) in 117 career games at Providence College (NCAA) from 2016-19 and was named to the 2019 Hockey East Third All-Star Team.

The Capitals drafted Trevor Duhaime, Brandon’s father, in the ninth round (190th overall) of the 1991 NHL Draft.

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