The Washington Capitals likely added to the Hershey Bears’ depth on Monday night, signing Sheldon Rempal to a one-year, two-way contract. The 29-year-old forward will earn the veteran minimum, $775k, in the NHL and $450k in the minors.
The news was first reported by PuckPedia.
Rempal, a 5-foot-10, 169-pound winger, spent the 2024-25 season in the KHL with Salavat Yulaev Ufa, recording 61 points (31g, 30a) in 68 regular-season games — good for fourth in the league. In the playoffs, the Calgary, Alberta native led the entire KHL in scoring despite not advancing to the Gagarin Cup Finals, posting 21 points (8g, 13a) in 19 games.
Salavat Yulaev was knocked out by the eventual champions, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, in five games during the semi-final round. Rempal helped push his team into the series against Lokomotiv with a goal in Game 7 against Spartak Moscow in the round prior.
Undrafted out of college, Rempal initially signed with the Los Angeles Kings ahead of the 2018-19 season after playing two years at Clarkson University.
During parts of five seasons in the NHL, Rempal has posted 3 points (2g, 1a) in 21 games, suiting up for the Kings, Carolina Hurricanes, Vancouver Canucks, and Vegas Golden Knights.
Both of Rempal’s NHL goals came during the 2023-24 season with the Golden Knights.
While Rempal hasn’t shown much in the NHL, he’s been a dominant player in the AHL, scoring 25 or more goals in each of his last three seasons in the league. Rempal’s career year came during the 2021-22 campaign with the Abbotsford Canucks, posting 69 points (33g, 36a) in 55 games.
Update, July 8: The Washington Capitals just officially announced the contract.
The full press release is below.
Capitals Sign Sheldon Rempal
Forward has recorded 252 points in 328 career AHL games
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have signed forward Sheldon Rempal to a one-year, two-way contract, senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick announced today. Rempal’s contract will carry an average annual value of $775,000 at the NHL level and $450,000 in AHL.
Rempal, 29, recorded 61 points (31g, 30a) in 68 games with Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in 2024-25. The 5’11”, 173-pound forward ranked second on the team in goals and points and fourth in assists. Rempal added a league-leading 13 assists and 21 points in 19 playoff games, helping Ufa reach the Gagarin Cup Semifinals.
Rempal spent the 2023-24 season in the Vegas Golden Knights organization, where he scored a team-leading 27 goals in 63 games with Henderson of the American Hockey League (AHL). Rempal also led the Silver Knights and ranked tied for sixth in the AHL in power-play goals (11). In addition, Rempal appeared in nine NHL games with Vegas in 2023-24 and registered three points (2g, 1a).
During the 2022-23 season, Rempal recorded 63 points (25g, 38a) in 70 games with Henderson, ranking tied for first on the team in goals and second in points and assists. He also appeared in one game with Vegas.
In 2021-22, Rempal recorded AHL career highs in points (69) and goals (33) in 55 games played with the Abbotsford Canucks. The Calgary, Alberta native led Abbotsford skaters in points and assists (36) and ranked second on the team in goals. Rempal’s 33 goals during the 2021-22 season were tied for the fifth most in the AHL.
The 2019 AHL All-Star has amassed 252 points (108g, 144a) in 328 career AHL games with Henderson, Abbotsford, Chicago and Ontario. Rempal has registered three points (2g, 1a) in 21 NHL games between Vegas, Vancouver, Carolina, and Los Angeles.
Rempal played collegiately at Clarkson University (NCAA), recording 69 points (34g, 35a) in 78 games over two seasons. Rempal was named to the ECAC All-Rookie team in 2016-17 and the ECAC First All-Star Team and NCAA (East) Second All-American Team in 2017-18 after leading his team in points (46) and goals (23).
Rempal attended Capitals Development Camp in 2017.
