One of the Washington Capitals’ core forwards is set to become a restricted free agent this summer.
Connor McMichael, who signed a two-year contract as a pending RFA in 2024, is without a deal for next season. Earlier this week, Capitals general manager Chris Patrick was asked to provide an update on where things stand with McMichael, as the two parties continue contract negotiations after pausing those conversations earlier in the season.
“Connor and I had a good meeting last week,” Patrick said. “I think he acknowledged he didn’t have the season he hoped, and I don’t know if the contract hanging over his head was part of it. I think he needs to have a really good summer here. He needs to show a commitment to his game, improve, and come into camp with a chip on his shoulder like he’s got something to prove. [With] the contract stuff, there’s a couple different ways we can go on it, and we’ll just see how it plays out.”
What Patrick means by a “couple different ways” likely refers to whether McMichael gets signed to another shorter bridge contract or the two parties ink a long-term deal. McMichael, 25, is just two years away from becoming eligible for unrestricted free agency, so signing a long-term contract after a down season could limit his potential earnings if he were to unlock another level in his play.
The negotiations come at a pivotal point in the 2019 first-round pick’s career. McMichael was unable to follow up his breakout 2024-25 campaign with a better 2025-26 season. After posting 57 points (26g, 31a) in 2024-25, he managed just 46 points (14g, 32a) in 78 games this year. A large chunk of McMichael’s production, too, came at the end of the season when the team had slid out of playoff contention. From March 9 until the end of the year, McMichael recorded 15 points (6g, 9a) in 19 games, leading the Capitals in scoring as they posted a 12-5-2 record down the stretch.
According to AFPAnalytics, a McMichael long-term extension is expected to cost approximately $25.6 million ($6.4 million AAV) over four years. If he opts to sign another two-year deal, his cap hit is projected to be $4.7 million.
During his Breakdown Day media availability, McMichael said he and the Capitals had some contract discussions during the season, but put them on hold for the team’s last gasp playoff push. He added that he expected him and the club to sort out a contract “soon.”
McMichael and Hendrix Lapierre are the Capitals’ lone NHL-rostered players set to become restricted free agents, but the club will also need to make decisions on Ryan Hofer, Jesper Vikman, and Garin Bjorklund with their minor-league affiliates.
The Capitals are projected to have $36.6 million in cap space this summer, with McMichael and, if he chooses to keep playing, captain Alex Ovechkin, their most expensive internal business to address.
If the Caps cannot come to an agreement with McMichael before July 1, the forward would be free to sign an offer sheet with another team, giving the Capitals an opportunity to either match that contract or receive draft pick compensation in return.
