- ESPN says the Capitals tried to trade for Vincent Desharnais before free agency even opened
- San Jose turned Washington down, so the Caps signed him July 1 on a four-year, $16.8 million deal
- Read below for what Desharnais said about the role he wanted in Washington
The Capitals did not stumble into Vincent Desharnais on the first day of free agency. They had been chasing him for months.
ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski reported that Washington tried to pry the 6-foot-7 defenseman away from San Jose at last season’s trade deadline. The Sharks, hanging around as a surprise contender in the West, said no.
So the Caps waited. When Desharnais hit the open market on July 1, they handed him a four-year, $16.8 million contract that carries a $4.2 million cap hit.
That is real money for a player who has suited up for four teams since 2022-23. Washington had a number ready and a job description to match.
Desharnais talked about why the Caps were the right landing spot:
“I wanted to go to a team that wanted me for the role that I can bring. Helping younger guys, being able to play with guys that have more offense and me taking care of our back end.”
He fits what the Caps were missing on the right side. Desharnais is a heavy, defense-first blueliner, and last season in San Jose was the best hockey of his career. He started more shifts deep in his own zone than any regular Sharks skater and still came out on the right side of the shot and chance battles.
The signing is one more piece of a busy Washington summer as the club reshapes its roster around Alex Ovechkin.
They could not get Desharnais in March. They made sure to get him in July.
