Justin Williams’ tenure in Washington appears over.
Days after quantifying his potential return to DC at 50/50, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported Thursday that Williams does not see Washington as an “option any longer.”
On Monday, TSN’s Darren Dreger said that unrestricted free agent Justin Williams would meet with the Capitals later in the week to talk about an extension. Dreger framed Williams’ chances of returning to the team as 50/50.
Two days later, Williams, while golfing at the Quicken Loans Pro-Am at TPC Potomac, revealed that the Capitals and he “haven’t had very in-depth discussions.”
On Sunday, unrestricted free agents began speaking to other NHL teams to gauge potential interest for next season. No contract can be signed until July 1st, and technically no contract terms are able to be discussed, but the window is now open for chatter.
Friday, the Capitals took the top forward and leading goalscorer among this year’s UFA class, TJ Oshie, off the board, re-signing the Sochi hero to an eight-year, $46 million contract.
With Oshie back and the need to re-sign five core restricted free agents, the Caps are unlikely to resign any of their other four UFAs: Justin Williams, Kevin Shattenkirk, Karl Alzner, and Daniel Winnik.
“I would imagine we’re done, depending on if something happens transaction wise,” MacLellan said to reporters at the NHL Draft in Chicago. “I would assume we’re done.”
But it sounds like Williams and the Caps are still exploring ways to potentially bring back the three-time Stanley Cup champion.
By Cara Bahniuk 2 years ago
The Washington Capitals had 11 free agents on their NHL roster heading into July 1 and Friday they re-upped the first of those players. The Capitals announced the re-signing of TJ Oshie to a eight-year, $46 million contract, the maximum amount of years a team could offer under the current CBA.
The deal keeps the team’s first-line right wing in DC likely for the rest of his career, but it also, according to MacLellan, will end the team’s pursuit of unrestricted free agents Karl Alzner, Kevin Shattenkirk, Justin Williams, and Daniel Winnik.
On April 10, 2016, Justin Williams played in his 1,000 career NHL game. During a touching pregame ceremony, Williams was gifted with a commemorative crystal from the NHL, a silver stick from the Capitals, and a Scottish golf vacation for two from the Capitals players. Nicklas Backstrom seemed particularly proud of the last gift, and now we see why. It was a gift for him too!
This week, Williams went on his golf vacation to the Old Course at St. Andrews in Fife, Scotland. He brought along Caps teammates Backstrom, Marcus Johansson, and Daniel Winnik along with former teammate Mike Richards. Swedish golfer Marcus Krischel and two unidentified others also participated.
The Old Course at St. Andrews is one of the oldest golf courses in the world.
By Cara Bahniuk 2 years ago
Despite a slow start, Justin Williams scored more goals at age 35 than he has since he was 25. There’s more in the tank here, if the Caps want it.
By Peter Hassett 2 years ago
Capitals forward Justin Williams has been living in America for the last 19 years. On Saturday, Williams took the extraordinary step of getting his American citizenship and becoming a dual citizen of the United States and Canada.
“I’ve lived here since I was 16 years old,” Williams said to CSN Mid-Atlantic’s JJ Regan. “Now I’m 35. Really half my life I’ve lived here so it was important to be a citizen.”
Justin Williams is so money in Game Sevens that his nickname is literally Mr. Game 7. Williams is undefeated in Game Sevens (7-0), tallying seven goals and seven assists. He also shares a playoff record with Glenn Anderson for most Game Seven goals and holds the record for most Game Seven points.
In 2014, a Los Angeles Kings blog, The Royal Half, tweeted a lock screen image of Williams before a Game 7 for good luck. The original tweet garnered a viral reaction of Kings fans making Williams their lock screen.
It worked for them, so I decided to carry on the tradition to Caps fans. Tonight is Williams’ time to shine and we are here to help.
By Cara Bahniuk 3 years ago
As the media stirred outside Washington Capitals the locker room for over 10 minutes, the team leaders came up to head coach Barry Trotz and told him they would handle the postgame talk in the locker room. The team had just lost 6-2 in front of their home fans — or at least the small number that were left when the final horn sounded — to go down 2-0 in their second round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Nicklas Backstrom, the quiet Swede whose quiet demeanor hides his world-class skill, spoke to the team. Backstrom came to the team almost 10 years ago after being a fourth overall pick, eventually rising to be one of the team’s biggest locker room presences and an alternate captain. The rest of the team then opened up.
By Chris Gordon 3 years ago
Justin Williams may have tallied the primary assist on Marcus Johansson’s round one series-ending goal, but his night ended in the worst possible way.
At some point while the three-time Stanley Cup champion was returning home, Williams received a gift from the Virginia State Police: a speeding ticket.
