The Washington Capitals added to their organizational depth on the second day of free agency as they announced the signings of forwards Luke Philp and Spencer Smallman to one-year, two-way contracts.
The two Canadian forwards are AHL veterans and will try to help the Hershey Bears become champions for a third-consecutive year. Hershey lost Jimmy Huntington and Joe Snively on Monday to NHL deals with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings respectively.
Philp and Smallman will make an identical $775k at the NHL level. Philp will make slightly more in the AHL ($375k) than Smallman ($350k).
NEWS | The Capitals have signed forward Luke Philp to a one-year, two-way contract and forward Spencer Smallman to a one-year, two-way contract. https://t.co/dzkeoxdM85
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) July 2, 2024
The 28-year-old Philp has spent the last two seasons in the Chicago Blackhawks organization, making his NHL debut with the club during the 2022-23 campaign. After an impressive first season with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs saw him record 53 points (29g, 24a) in 60 games, Philp tore his right Achilles tendon before last season and only featured in 15 total games.
While in Chicago’s organization, he was teammates with new Capitals winger Taylor Raddysh and former Capitals/Bears winger Garrett Mitchell.
Additionally, before moving to Rockford, Philp spent three seasons with the Stockton Heat. Mitch Love, current Capitals assistant coach, was Philp’s head coach during the 2021-22 season.
BORIS GOAL 🚨
Also, Luke Philp with an assist for his first NHL point 🥳 pic.twitter.com/66k6878oAa
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 27, 2023
The 27-year-old Smallman was part of the last, non-Hershey team to take home the Calder Cup after winning with the Chicago Wolves in 2022. Smallman has spent parts of the last six seasons in the AHL, the last two with the Colorado Eagles.
In 53 games for the Eagles last year, Smallman recorded 21 points (12g, 9a). He was previously teammates with Bears defenseman Jake Massie on the ECHL’s Greenville Swamp Rabbits and fellow Capitals signing Chase Priskie on the Charlotte Checkers.
Smallman was originally drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL Draft.
Here’s the Capitals’ press release on the signings:
Capitals sign Luke Philp and Spencer Smallman
The Washington Capitals have signed forward Luke Philp to a one-year, two-way contract ($775,000/$375,000) and forward Spencer Smallman to a one-year, two-way contract ($775,000/$350,000)
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have signed forward Luke Philp to a one-year, two-way contract ($775,000/$375,000) and forward Spencer Smallman to a one-year, two-way contract ($775,000/$350,000), president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.
Philp, 28, recorded six points (2g, 4a) and a +3 plus/minus rating in 15 regular-season games with the Rockford IceHogs (AHL) in 2023-24 after missing the first 57 games of the season due to injury. The 5’10”, 181-pound forward appeared in 60 regular-season games with Rockford during the 2022-23 season, where he established AHL single-season career highs in goals (29), assists (24) and points (54). Philp’s 29 goals led the IceHogs and his 53 points ranked third on the team. In 223 career AHL games with Rockford and the Stockton Heat, Philp has registered 151 points (79g, 72a) and a +45 plus/minus rating. Philp has also recorded nine points (2g, 7a) in 19 career Calder Cup Playoff games.
The Canmore, Alberta native appeared in three games with the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2022-23 season, where he recorded one assist.
Smallman, 28, recorded 21 points (12g, 9a) in 53 games with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) in 2023-24. Smallman’s 16.9 shooting percentage (12 goals on 71 shots) ranked second on Colardo, while his 53 penalty minutes ranked sixth. The 6’1”, 198-pound forward appeared in 61 regular-season games with Colorado during the 2022-23 season, recording 26 points (13g, 13a). His 13 goals ranked fourth on the Eagles and marked an AHL single-season career high. During the 2021-22 season, Smallman recorded a career high 27 points (10g, 17a) in 65 regular-season games with the Chicago Wolves (AHL) and added six points (2g, 4a) in 18 playoff games to help the Wolves win the 2022 Calder Cup championship. Originally drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the fifth round (138th overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft, Smallman has recorded 95 points (38g, 57a) in 244 career AHL games with Colorado, Chicago and the Charlotte Checkers. In addition, Smallman has registered seven points (3g, 4a) in 26 career Calder Cup Playoff games.
