Damien Riat

Capitals choose not to extend qualifying offer to Ilya Samsonov

In an unexpected move, the Washington Capitals chose not to tender a qualifying offer to restricted free agent Ilya Samsonov before Monday’s 5 PM deadline.

The move would have allowed the Capitals to keep the rights of the talented Russian goaltender who was their first-round pick in 2015. Now, if the two sides don’t hammer out a deal before Wednesday at noon, Samsonov will become an unrestricted free agent and can sign with any other team. The Capitals would get no compensation in return.

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By Ian Oland 1 year ago

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Capitals loan Damien Riat to Swiss National League team for 2021-22 season

The Washington Capitals announced on Thursday that it is loaning 24-year-old forward prospect, Damien Riat, to the Lausanne HC of the Swiss National League.

According to the Capitals, Riat will be eligible to return to North America at the conclusion of the National League’s 2021-22 season.

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By Ian Oland 2 years ago

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Capitals loan prospects Damien Riat and Tobias Geisser to Swiss National League teams to begin 2020-21 season

The Washington Capitals announced this morning that two of their prospects, who appeared likely to start next season with the Hershey Bears, have been loaned to Swiss National League teams to begin the year.

Damien Riat has been loaned to Geneve-Servette and Tobias Geisser will join EV Zug.

The Capitals signed Riat to a two-year entry-level contract on March 5 and Geisser to a three-year ELC with Geisser on March 22, 2018.

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By Ian Oland 3 years ago

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Capitals sign Damien Riat to a two-year entry-level contract

Damien Riat, Washington’s fourth-round draft pick in 2016, has officially signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Caps. The deal will begin in the 2020-21 season, as Riat is finishing off a two-year deal with the NLA team Biel-Bienne in Switzerland.

The 23-year-old forward’s contract will carry an annual average value of $817,500.

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By Cara Bahniuk 4 years ago

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Prospect Damien Riat will remain in Europe after signing two-year deal with Biel-Bienne

Damien Riat, a Capitals forward prospect, appears likely to stay in Europe for the immediate future. The former fourth round draft pick has signed a two-year deal with the NLA team Biel-Bienne in Switzerland.

If the 21-year-old Riat fulfills the entire term of his contract, the earliest he can come to North America will be the 2020-21 season.

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By Cara Bahniuk 5 years ago

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2017 World Junior Championship review: Caps prospects shine and United States wins gold

This year’s iteration of the IIHF World Junior Championship featured three Capitals prospects and numerous wow moments on the way to the United States clawing their way to the gold medal on Thursday in Montreal. This years tournament will be remembered as having one of the best medal rounds in tournament history with three of the four games going to overtime and all four of the “big four” teams involved. Let’s look at the best moments for all those involved in this year’s tournament.

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By Spenser Smallwood 7 years ago

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Damien Riat nets three points, Jonas Siegenthaler named ‘Player of the Game’ in Swiss 4-3 OT win

Two of the three Caps prospects at this year’s World Junior Championship, defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler and forward Damien Riat, got their tournament underway Tuesday as their Team Switzerland beat the Czech Republic 4-3 in overtime.

They both had huge games. Siegenthaler even assisted on Riat’s goal.

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By Chris Cerullo 7 years ago

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A guide to the 2017 World Junior Championship

The IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships is an annual tournament, showcasing many of the top prospects in the game of hockey. The day after Christmas, prospects from ten countries come together to battle for the WJC title. It is a wonderful opportunity for hockey fans to get to watch the stars of tomorrow play for country pride on a large stage.

Fifteen current Washington Capitals have World Juniors experience including five of their top six defensemen (Nate Schmidt was the exception), and eight of their top nine forwards (except Justin Williams). While Braden Holtby never made it onto a Canadian World Junior squad, his net-mate, Philipp Grubauer, played in two tourneys for Germany.

This year’s WJC will be played in Montreal and Toronto and features three Capitals prospects. There’s also more than a couple interesting draft-eligible prospects to keep an eye on.

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By Spenser Smallwood 7 years ago

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Capitals 2016 Development Camp in Photos

Photos: Amanda Bowen

The Washington Capitals hosted their annual development camp for prospects two weeks earlier this year – arguably the busiest week of the offseason – to better accommodate prospects’ demanding schedules over the summer.

Three days after the 2016 NHL Draft, Caps prospects, which included the likes of top prospects Madison Bowey and Riley Barber as well as every pick from the 2015 and 2016 drafts, took the ice. The prospects learned system play and did drills to allow the front office to evaluate their skills and get baseline numbers. The prospects also participated in off-ice programs to learn what it takes to be a professional in the league. There was also a team-building rowing event held near Georgetown.

Lost in the headlines of qualifying offers, huge trades, and the first day of free agency, talented 2015 first-round pick Ilya Samsonov made his Caps debut, working feverishly with legendary goalie coach Mitch Korn. “[Camp] was really hard,” Samsonov said through a translator. “So many shots.” Forward Stan Galiev even made an appearance several days to help translate. Over the next year, the culture-shocked Samsonov, who only knows a handful of English words, will Skype once a week with Barry Trotz’s son Tyson, to better learn the language and communicate with coaches.

On Saturday, Caps Development Camp concluded with a scrimmage in front of a mostly full Kettler Capitals Iceplex, where Team White picked up a fun, but insignificant win.

That’s because, as the prospects know all too well, the real games and real tests are to come. Only a handful will suit up for the Washington Capitals someday.

Below are my photos from every day this week.

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By Amanda Bowen 7 years ago

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A Closer Look at the Six Selections the Caps Made on the Second Day of 2016 NHL Draft

Photo: @Capitals

A day after drafting talented defenseman Lucas Johansen with their first round pick, the Washington Capitals made six other selections on Day Two, including two picks two spots apart in the fifth round.

“The theme this year was to get intelligent players that work hard and can skate,” Assistant General Manager Ross Mahoney said to reporters after the Draft concluded. “We’re really happy with the results we got. Moving back and picking up an extra pick and still getting the person we want in the first round. Plus getting that extra pick so that was good because we were down a few picks after some of the trades that have taken place. Very happy with that.”

The Washington Capitals selected center Garrett Pilon in the third round, left wing Damien Riat in the fourth, left wings Beck Malenstyn and Axel Jonsson-Fjallby in the fifth, defenseman Chase Priskie in the sixth, and defenseman Dmitriy Zaitsev in the seventh. Below, we profile each player.

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By Ian Oland 7 years ago

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