ARLINGTON, VA — The Washington Capitals welcomed a fresh face to the ice as players gear up for training camp next month.
Defenseman Vincent Desharnais joined several of his new teammates on Thursday morning for an informal skate at MedStar Capitals Iceplex.
The Capitals signed Desharnais at the start of free agency in July, inking him to a four-year contract worth $4.2 million per season. Since 2022-23, Desharnais has played for four teams in four seasons, spending the last two years with the San Jose Sharks.
Desharnais, who measures at 6’7”, adds serious size to the Capitals’ blue line; he towered over the 6’2” Matt Roy at Thursday’s skate.
In a gregarious introductory press conference after the signing, Desharnais described himself as someone who takes pride in his defensive game.
“I’m so excited when we take a penalty because I want to kill it. It’s a challenge,” he said then.
Desharnais wasn’t the only offseason acquisition at the rink on Thursday, with forward Jonny Brodzinski also making his apparent debut at the informal skates. Brodzinski, who last played with the New York Rangers, signed a one-year deal worth $850,000 in Washington this summer.
Other notable participants in Thursday’s skate included Capitals Alex Tuch, Logan Thompson, Pierre-Luc Dubois, and Martin Fehervary, as well as prospect Lynden Lakovic.
