The Washington Capitals announced they signed 2024 third-round draft selection Eriks Mateiko to a three-year, entry-level contract on Friday. Washington picked the 18-year-old forward from the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs. He was the first Latvian-born player ever to be drafted by the Capitals.
Mateiko is the fourth member of Washington’s 2024 draft class to sign an entry-level deal after Terik Parascak, Leon Muggli, and Ilya Protas. His deal will pay him $889,167 in the NHL and $85,000 in the AHL.
NEWS | The Capitals have signed forward Eriks Mateiko to a three-year entry-level contract. Mateiko's contract will carry an average annual value of $889,167.#ALLCAPS | @Shift4
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 27, 2024
Mateiko has spent the past two seasons with the Sea Dogs in the QMJHL. The six-foot-five-inch, 216-pound winger recorded 43 points (23g, 20a) in 49 games last year. He led the Sea Dogs in goals, finished second in points, and was one of the team’s alternate captains.
He attended Development Camp and Rookie Camp and made his preseason debut with the Capitals last week. Washington sent him back to junior during their first round of Training Camp cuts.
Mateiko could make his season debut with Saint John against the Charlottetown Islanders on Friday night.
The Jelgava, Latvia native also played for his country at the 2024 U20 World Junior Championship, scoring one goal in five games. He is Latvia’s highest draft pick since the 2015 draft when the Toronto Maple Leafs took Martins Dzierkals with the 68th overall selection.
The #ALLCAPS signed '24 3rd Round Pick F Eriks Mateiko to 3 year ELC
Year 1 775K NHL, 97.5K Signing Bonus, GP Bonus 102.5K
Year 2 & 3 800/97.5K/77.5Cap Hit 889K, AAV 975K
Rep'd by @HockeyAgent1 @GoldStarHockey https://t.co/3qqpAlI2k4
— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) September 27, 2024
Here’s the press release from the team:
Capitals Sign Eriks Mateiko
2024 third-round pick signs three-year entry-level contract
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have signed forward Eriks Mateiko to a three-year entry-level contract, senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick announced today. Mateiko’s contract will carry an average annual value of $889,167.
The Capitals selected Mateiko, 18, with the 90th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. On Sept. 22, Mateikomade his NHL preseason debut with the Capitals against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 6’5”, 207-pound forwardrecorded 43 points (23g, 20a) in 49 games with the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in 2023-24. Mateiko, who served as an alternate captain for Saint John, led the team in goals and ranked tied for first in power-play goals (6) and second in points. A native of Jelgava, Latvia, Mateiko represented his country at the 2024 World Junior Championship, where he recorded one goal in five games.
Mateiko registered 36 points (16g, 20a) in 62 games during his rookie season with Saint John in 2022-23, ranking third among the team’s first-year players in goals and fourth in points. Mateiko was the captain of Latvia at the 2023 Under-18 World Championship and finished the tournament with two points in five games.
Mateiko was ranked fifth among North American left wings and 33rd among all North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.
