2011–12 Washington Capitals season
Encyclopedia
The 2011–12
2011–12 NHL season
The 2011–12 NHL season is the 95th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It is the fifth consecutive season that opens in Europe with NHL Premiere games. As with the previous season, three events are scheduled: two games will be held in Stockholm, Sweden; one game in Helsinki,...

 Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...

 season
Season (sports)
In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...

is the franchise’s 38th
Washington Capitals seasons
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The team is a member of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The Capitals played at the Capital Centre from their inaugural season in 1974 to 1997, when they moved to the...

 season in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...

 (NHL).

Off-season

During the off-season The Capitals made several player changes. One of the players that was not retained by the team, Matt Bradley
Matt Bradley
Matthew William Bradley is a Canadian professional hockey right winger who plays for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...

, started a controversy with his comments from a radio interview in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...

. In the interview Bradley said his former team was "a little bit too nonchalant, and guys weren’t disciplined the way they should have been." which were the two biggest reasons why the team was not able to advance past the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs
2011 Stanley Cup playoffs
The 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 13, 2011, after the conclusion of the 2010–11 NHL regular season. Game 1 of the Finals was held on June 1, while Game 7 was held on June 15...

. He later stated that head coach Bruce Boudreau
Bruce Boudreau
Bruce Allan Boudreau is a Canadian professional ice hockey head coach and current head coach of the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League . As a player, Boudreau played professionally for 20 seasons, logging 141 games in the NHL and 30 games in the World Hockey Association...

 did not give the most ice time to players who were playing well, but went with his star players. He further noted that Boudreau was a "great coach" who had been put in a tough position. When asked to point out examples Bradley stated that Alexander Semin
Alexander Semin
Alexander Valerievich Semin , also known by fans as The Great 28, The Other Alex, or most commonly known as Sasha, is a Russian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Washington Capitals in the National Hockey League ....

 "could easily be the best player in the league" but he "just doesn’t care" further noting "When you've got a guy like that, you need him to be your best player, or one of your best players, and when he doesn't show up, you almost get the sense that he wants to be back in Russia." Semin's agent came to his client's defense stating he "always cares". While teammate Mike Knuble
Mike Knuble
Michael Rudolph Knuble is a Canadian American professional ice hockey right winger and an alternate captain for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...

 noted that the language barrier affects the way that Semin is perceive and the comments were something Bradley regretted. When asked about the comments former Capitals' forward David Steckel stated that "It's not like he went out and told lies." Bradley later apologized for his comments in an interview with the Sun Sentinel.

Including Bradley the Capitals lost six players who played for them in the playoffs as well as back-up goaltender Semyon Varlamov. To replace some the departed players Washington traded its 2011 first round draft pick
2011 NHL Entry Draft
The 2011 NHL Entry Draft was the 49th NHL Entry Draft. It was held on June 24–25, 2011, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was the first time the Draft was held in the state of Minnesota since the Minnesota North Stars hosted the 1989 NHL Entry Draft.The top three picks consisted...

 to the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...

 for veteran winger Troy Brouwer
Troy Brouwer
Troy Brouwer is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger currently playing for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...

. A member of the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...

 championship team in 2010
2010 Stanley Cup Finals
The 2010 Stanley Cup Final was the championship series of the National Hockey League season. As the culmination of the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia Flyers faced the Western Conference champion Chicago Blackhawks...

. They signed Joel Ward
Joel Ward (ice hockey)
Joel Ward is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .-Early life:...

 as a free agent, adding grit and the hopes that he could duplicate his 2011 playoff
2011 Stanley Cup playoffs
The 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 13, 2011, after the conclusion of the 2010–11 NHL regular season. Game 1 of the Finals was held on June 1, while Game 7 was held on June 15...

 success. Ward scored 7 goals and 13 points in 12 playoff games with the Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...

, after scoring 10 goals and 29 points in 80 regular season games. In net they added veteran Tomas Vokoun
Tomas Vokoun
Tomáš Vokoun is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...

, who was considered to be one of the top goaltenders in the 2011 free agent class. He signed a one-year $1.5 million contract, well below his believed market value, to have a chance at winning a Stanley Cup. After making these and other off-season moves the Capitals were over the NHL salary cap. The expectation was that defenseman Tom Poti
Tom Poti
Thomas Emilio Poti is an ice hockey defenseman and an alternate captain of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League. He attended Saint Peter-Marian High School for two years. A graduate of the Cushing Academy, Poti moved on to play for Boston University of Hockey East...

 would not be able to play due to injury. Washington would place him on long-term injured reserve and Poti's $2.9 million salary would not count against the cap total. Unexpectedly Poti told the Capitals that he would be ready to play by training camp. However Poti failed his medical exam prior to training camp and was placed on long-term injured reserve.

October - November

In the season opener against the Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...

 Boudreau made a "surprise" decision to start goaltender Michal Neuvirth
Michal Neuvirth
Michal Neuvirth is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Washington Capitals after spending time with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League...

. Boudreau stated that the reason behind his decision was a reward for Neuvirth hard work in training camp. Prior to the Capitals' second game Neuvirth sustained a bruised foot and was unable to play. In his Capitals debut Vokoun struggled allowing 5 goals on 28 shots, but Washington won the game 6–5 in a shootout. In the post game interview Vokoun blamed himself for the high number of goals and thanked his teammates for getting him the win in a game he should have lost. Vokoun rebounded in his second game making 39 saves in a 3–2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...

. He continued
his strong play and was named the NHL's third star of the week ending October 23 and helped the Caps to a franchise record seven game win streak to start a season.

After losing two straight games Washington was down 4–3 to the Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...

 in the final minutes of the game. With the goaltender pulled Boudreau decided to play the third line
Line (ice hockey)
A line in ice hockey is a term used to describe a group of forwards that play in a group, or shift, during a game.A complete forward line consists of a left wing, a center, and a right wing, while a pair of defensemen who play together are called a "defensive pairing." Typically, a team dresses...

 of Ward, Brooks Laich
Brooks Laich
Evan Brooks Laich is a Canadian ice hockey player with the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League. Laich was originally drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, and was later traded to the Capitals as part of the package for Peter Bondra...

, and Jason Chimera
Jason Chimera
Jason Chimera is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger and an alternate captain for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .-Pre-NHL:Chimera played his junior career in the WHL, for Medicine Hat and Brandon...

 with Nicklas Backstrom
Nicklas Bäckström
Lars Nicklas Bäckström is a Swedish professional ice hockey centre and an alternate captain for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .-Early life:...

 as the extra attacker
Extra attacker
An extra attacker in ice hockey is a forward or, less commonly, a defenceman who has been substituted in place of the goaltender. The purpose of this substitution is to gain an offensive advantage to score a goal...

. Boudreau stated that he was "playing a hunch" by leaving star forward Alex Ovechkin on the bench. The move paid off as Backstrom scored to force overtime. He also scored the game winner in overtime assisted by Ovechkin. When asked about being left on the bench in a post game interview Ovechkin stated that Laich's line deserved to be on the ice. Though video showed Ovechkin visibly upset about being left on the bench. The foll.owing day Ovechkin stated that he was upset about not being on the ice in the final minutes but that he understood Boudreau's decision.

Following the benching incident the Capitals went 2–5–0 leading up to their November 21 game against the Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....

. For the game Boudreau made headlines again for sitting one of his star players. This time making Semin a healthy scratch
Scratch
Scratch may refer to:* A mark or indentation on a surface: Abrasion It may also refer to:- Recordings :* Scratch , by Kaela Kimura* Scratch , the soundtrack to the 2001 documentary Scratch...

. Semin led the team in penalty minutes (PIMs) as well as being tied for second in the NHL with 14 minor penalties. Boudreau previously bench Semin for the second half of a game versus the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

 after the winger had taken two minors and was not focused. Washington defeated Phoenix the game 4–3. The Hockey News
The Hockey News
The Hockey News, commonly abbreviated to THN, is a North American ice hockey magazine published by Transcontinental. The Hockey News was founded in 1947 by Ken McKenzie and Bill Côté, and has since been the most recognized hockey publication in North America...

' Ken Campbell applauded the benching of Ovechkin stating that in the past Boudreau had shown a willingness to continually put is star plays out on the ice despite how they were playing and accept the consequences. Campbell noted the move was Boudreau "addressing his most glaring problem as a coach". NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...

's Mike Halford echoed Campbell's statement when discussing the benching of Semin, commenting that it was a "bold move" and the latest in a series of messages sent by Boudreau. Though he further questioned if the new stance would eventually cost him his job.

The moves did not produce the desired results as Capitals lost six of eight games, with Ovechkin scoring only one goal during the same stretch. As a result Washington fired Boudreau on November 28 and replaced him with former Capitals captain, Dale Hunter
Dale Hunter
Dale Robert Hunter is a former professional ice hockey player and current head coach of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League.-NHL career:...

. Hunter was the head coach of the Ontario Hockey League
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....

's (OHL) London Knights
London Knights
The London Knights are a junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario, Canada, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League.-Early days–1968:...

 when he was hired. During his time with London he set an OHL record for fastest coach to 300 and 400 career wins. The Capitals lost Hunter's coaching debut 2–1 to the St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...

. The following day Boudreau spoke to the media about being fired. He stated that general manager George McPhee
George McPhee
George McPhee is the general manager of the National Hockey League's Washington Capitals as well as the team's alternate governor and vice president...

 made the "right decision at the time" he also did not feel that Ovechkin was a problem stating that he "worked as hard and tried as hard as he could".

Pre-season


Regular season

December: 0–0–0 (Home: 0–0–0 ; Road: 0–0–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Record Points Recap
24 1 Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...

 
- Washington Capitals
25 3 Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

 
- Washington Capitals
26 5 Washington Capitals - Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...

 
27 7 Washington Capitals - Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

 
28 9 Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

 
- Washington Capitals
29 13 Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

 
- Washington Capitals
30 15 Washington Capitals - Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets were a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. They began play in the World Hockey Association in 1972, moving to the National Hockey League in 1979 following the collapse of the WHA...

 
31 17 Washington Capitals - Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...

 
32 20 Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...

 
- Washington Capitals
33 23 Washington Capitals - New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

 
34 26 Washington Capitals - Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...

 
35 28 New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...

 
- Washington Capitals
36 30 Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...

 
- Washington Capitals
37 31 Washington Capitals - Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...

 

Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/− = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes

Regular season
ss="wikitable sortable" width="100%">
Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM
22 7 18 25 –6 16
22 8 9 17 –7 12
22 9 5 14 +8 8
22 6 7 13 0 6
21 6 7 13 –2 6
22 4 9 13 –4 4
22 3 10 13 –6 6
22 4 8 12 +5 6
21 5 5 10 –3 32
21 4 4 8 +4 6
22 2 5 7 –5 10
22 1 6 7 +8 6
8 3 3 6 +1 0
13 3 2 5 +2 4
11 2 3 5 +3 2
21 1 4 5 –2 6
21 0 5 5 +2 6
22 0 3 3 0 25
8 0 2 2 +2 15
4 0 2 2 0 0
22 1 0 1 –10 18
1 0 0 0 0 0
2 0 0 0 –1 0
2 0 0 0 0 7

Goaltenders

Note: GP = Games Played; Min = Time On Ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime Losses; GA = Goals Against; GAA= Goals Against Average; SA= Shots Against; SV= Saves; Sv% = Save Percentage; SO= Shutouts
Regular season
ss="wikitable sortable" width="100%">
Player GP Min W L OT GA GAA SA Sv% SO G A PIM
17 894 10 5 0 42 2.82 440 .905 1 0 0 2
8 440 2 4 1 28 3.82 212 .868 0 0 0 2


Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Capitals. Stats reflect time with the Capitals only.

Traded mid-season

Bold/italics denotes franchise record

Awards

Regular Season
Player Award Awarded
Tomas Vokoun
Tomas Vokoun
Tomáš Vokoun is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...

NHL Third Star of the Week  October 24, 2011
Nicklas Backstrom
Nicklas Bäckström
Lars Nicklas Bäckström is a Swedish professional ice hockey centre and an alternate captain for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .-Early life:...

 
NHL Third Star of the Week November 7, 2011

Milestones

Regular Season
Player Milestone Reached
Joel Ward
Joel Ward (ice hockey)
Joel Ward is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .-Early life:...

 
100th Career NHL Point October 8, 2011
Jason Chimera
Jason Chimera
Jason Chimera is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger and an alternate captain for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .-Pre-NHL:Chimera played his junior career in the WHL, for Medicine Hat and Brandon...

 
100th Career NHL Goal October 10, 2011
Jeff Halpern
Jeff Halpern
Jeffrey C. Halpern is an American professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Washington Capitals.-Playing career:...

 
800th Career NHL Game October 27, 2011
Alexander Semin
Alexander Semin
Alexander Valerievich Semin , also known by fans as The Great 28, The Other Alex, or most commonly known as Sasha, is a Russian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Washington Capitals in the National Hockey League ....

 
400th Career NHL Game October 27, 2011
Cody Eakin
Cody Eakin
Cody Eakin is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing with the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League...

 
1st Career NHL Game November 1, 2011
Cody Eakin 1st Career NHL Goal
1st Career NHL Assist
1st Career NHL Point
November 4, 2011


Transactions

The Capitals have been involved in the following transactions
2011–12 NHL transactions
The following is a list of all team-to-team transactions that have occurred in the National Hockey League during the 2011–12 NHL season. It lists what team each player has been traded to, signed by, or claimed by, and for which player or draft pick, if applicable...

 during the 2011–12 season.

Trades

Date
Details
June 2, 2011 To Nashville Predators
2011–12 Nashville Predators season
The 2011–12 Nashville Predators season will be the club's 14th season in the National Hockey League .-Off-season:On June 22, 2011, the Predators revealed a new team logo, secondary logo and wordmarks...


Conditional 7th-round pick in 2013
2013 NHL Entry Draft
The 2013 NHL Entry Draft will be the 51st NHL Entry Draft. Date and location are still to be determined. -Traded picks:The order of the 2013 Entry Draft will be finalized upon the conclusion of the 2012–13 NHL season. However, some teams have already exchanged picks for this draft via trade...

To Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...


Taylor Stefishen
June 24, 2011 To Chicago Blackhawks
2011–12 Chicago Blackhawks season
The 2011–12 Chicago Blackhawks season will be the 86th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on September 25, 1926.-Standings:-Schedule and results:Legend:-Pre-season:-Regular season:...


1st-round pick (#26 overall) in 2011
2011 NHL Entry Draft
The 2011 NHL Entry Draft was the 49th NHL Entry Draft. It was held on June 24–25, 2011, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was the first time the Draft was held in the state of Minnesota since the Minnesota North Stars hosted the 1989 NHL Entry Draft.The top three picks consisted...

To Washington Capitals
Troy Brouwer
Troy Brouwer
Troy Brouwer is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger currently playing for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...

July 1, 2011 To Colorado Avalanche 
Semyon Varlamov
To Washington Capitals
1st-round pick in 2012
2012 NHL Entry Draft
The 2012 NHL Entry Draft will be the 50th NHL Entry Draft. The draft will be held on June 22–23, 2012 at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is the first time Pittsburgh will host the draft since the 1997 NHL Entry Draft....


Conditional 2nd-round pick in 2012
2012 NHL Entry Draft
The 2012 NHL Entry Draft will be the 50th NHL Entry Draft. The draft will be held on June 22–23, 2012 at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is the first time Pittsburgh will host the draft since the 1997 NHL Entry Draft....

July 8, 2011 To Winnipeg Jets 
Eric Fehr
Eric Fehr
Eric Fehr is a Canadian ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League. Fehr was a first-round draft pick in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals, chosen 18th overall....

To Washington Capitals
Danick Paquette
4th-round pick in 2012
2012 NHL Entry Draft
The 2012 NHL Entry Draft will be the 50th NHL Entry Draft. The draft will be held on June 22–23, 2012 at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is the first time Pittsburgh will host the draft since the 1997 NHL Entry Draft....

November 8, 2011 To New York Rangers 
Francois Bouchard
François Bouchard
François Bouchard is a Canadian professional ice hockey player in the New York Rangers organization. He currently plays in the American Hockey League with the Connecticut Whale. Bouchard was drafted in the second round, 35th overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Capitals...

To Washington Capitals
Tomas Kundratek
Tomáš Kundrátek
Tomáš Kundrátek is a professional ice hockey defenceman. He is currently playing with the Hershey Bears in the American Hockey League...


Free agents signed

Player Former team Contract terms
Mattias Sjogren
Mattias Sjögren
Mattias Sjögren is a Swedish professional ice hockey centre who currently plays for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League.On June 1, 2011, the Washington Capitals signed Sjögren to a two year contract, reportedly worth 1.8 million dollars....

 
Farjestad BK
Färjestads BK
Färjestads Bollklubb is a Swedish professional ice hockey team based in Karlstad. Färjestad has had 18 Swedish Championship final appearances, winning nine times since Elitserien was started in 1975. The team plays in the highest Swedish league, and have done so since 1965...

 
2 years, $1.8 million entry-level contract
Jeff Halpern
Jeff Halpern
Jeffrey C. Halpern is an American professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Washington Capitals.-Playing career:...

 
Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...

 
1 year, $875,000
Joel Ward
Joel Ward (ice hockey)
Joel Ward is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .-Early life:...

 
Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...

 
4 years, $12 million
Roman Hamrlik
Roman Hamrlík
Roman Hamrlík is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .- Playing career :...

 
Montreal Canadiens 2 years, $7 million
Ryan Potulny
Ryan Potulny
Ryan Potulny is an American professional ice hockey player. Potulny is a member of the Washington Capitals in the National Hockey League...

 
Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

 
2 years, $1.05 million
Matthew Ford
Matthew Ford (ice hockey)
Matthew Ford is an American professional ice hockey forward. he is currently playing with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League.-Playing career:...

 
Lake Erie Monsters
Lake Erie Monsters
The Lake Erie Monsters are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They began play in the 2007–08 AHL season at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio...

 
1 year, $525,000
Chris Bourque
Chris Bourque
Christopher Bourque is an American professional ice hockey player for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League. Bourque was drafted by the Capitals 33rd overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.-Playing career:...

 
HC Lugano  1 year, $525,000
Tomas Vokoun
Tomas Vokoun
Tomáš Vokoun is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...

 
Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...

 
1 year, $1.5 million
Danny Richmond
Danny Richmond
Danny Richmond is a professional ice hockey defenseman for the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League. He is the son of retired NHL defenseman, Steve Richmond.-Amateur career:...

 
Toronto Marlies
Toronto Marlies
The Toronto Marlies is a Canadian professional ice hockey team currently playing in the American Hockey League . The top affiliate of the National Hockey League 's Toronto Maple Leafs, the Marlies play at the Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario...

 
1 year, $525,000
Christian Hanson
Christian Hanson (ice hockey)
Christian David Hanson is an American professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Washington Capitals. Prior to playing for the Capitals, Hanson played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and in the American Hockey League for the Toronto Marlies. He played amateur hockey for the University...

 
Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

 
1 year, $525,000
Jacob Micflikier
Jacob Micflikier
Jacob Micflikier is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Hershey Bears in the American Hockey League.-College hockey:...

 
Charlotte Checkers
Charlotte Checkers (2010–)
The Charlotte Checkers are a minor-league professional ice hockey team based in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Midwest Division of the Western Conference of the American Hockey League , and are the AHL affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League...

 
1 year, $525,000


Free agents lost

Player New team Contract terms
Marco Sturm
Marco Sturm
Marco Johann Sturm is a German professional ice hockey winger with the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League . Sturm began his career with EV Landshut of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, playing with the team from 1995 to 1997. Selected 21st overall in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft by the San Jose...

 
Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...

 
1 year, $2.25 million
Boyd Gordon
Boyd Gordon
Boyd Gordon is a professional ice hockey right winger who currently plays for the Phoenix Coyotes of the NHL.-Playing career:Gordon was drafted in the 1st round, 17th overall by the Washington Capitals in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft...

 
Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....

 
2 years, $2.65 million
Matt Bradley
Matt Bradley
Matthew William Bradley is a Canadian professional hockey right winger who plays for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...

 
Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...

 
2 years, $1.9 million
Andrew Gordon
Andrew Gordon (ice hockey)
Andrew Gordon is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger in the Anaheim Ducks system.-Playing career:Gordon began his career with the Notre Dame Hounds of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. In 2004, he was drafted by the Washington Capitals...

 
Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...

 
2 years, $1.075 million
Steve Pinizzotto
Steve Pinizzotto
Steven Pinizzotto is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger/centre currently under contract with the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League...

 
Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...

 
1 year, $600,000
Jason Arnott
Jason Arnott
Jason William Arnott is a professional ice hockey centre for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League. He began his NHL career with the Edmonton Oilers in 1993–94 after being selected seventh overall in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team...

 
St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...

 
1 year, $2.875 million
Brian Willsie
Brian Willsie
Brian Willsie is a Canadian ice hockey right winger who currently plays for the Hamilton Bulldogs.-Playing career:Willsie grew up in the small southwestern Ontario town of Belmont, Ontario and played minor hockey for the local Belmont MHA teams and the AAA Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs...

 
Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...

 
1 year, $600,000
Tyler Sloan
Tyler Sloan
Tyler Sloan is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman in the Nashville Predators organization in the National Hockey League...

 
Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...

 
1 year, $650,000
Scott Hannan
Scott Hannan
-External links:...

 
Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...

 
1 year, $1 million

Player Signings

Player Date Contract terms
Zach Miskovic
Zach Miskovic
Zach Miskovic is an American professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Hershey Bears in the American Hockey League.-Professional career:...

 
May 18, 2011 1 year, $525,000
Patrick McNeill
Patrick McNeill
Patrick McNeill is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League.-Playing career:...

 
June 15, 2011 2 years, $1.05 million
Dany Sabourin
Dany Sabourin
Daniel Sabourin is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently under contract for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League...

 
June 17, 2011 1 year, $525,000
Brooks Laich
Brooks Laich
Evan Brooks Laich is a Canadian ice hockey player with the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League. Laich was originally drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, and was later traded to the Capitals as part of the package for Peter Bondra...

 
June 28, 2011 6 years, $27 million
Sean Collins  July 1, 2011 1 year, $525,000
Troy Brouwer
Troy Brouwer
Troy Brouwer is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger currently playing for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...

 
July 6, 2011 2 years, $4.7 million
Mathieu Perreault
Mathieu Perreault
Mathieu Perreault is a Canadian ice hockey centre for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League.-Washington Capitals:...

 
July 13, 2011 1 year, $525,000
Karl Alzner
Karl Alzner
Karl Alzner is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman, currently playing for the Washington Capitals. He was drafted in the first round, 5th overall, by the Capitals in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft...

 
July 15, 2011 2 years, $2.57 million
Francois Bouchard
François Bouchard
François Bouchard is a Canadian professional ice hockey player in the New York Rangers organization. He currently plays in the American Hockey League with the Connecticut Whale. Bouchard was drafted in the second round, 35th overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Capitals...

 
July 15, 2011 1 year, $770,000
Stanislav Galiev
Stanislav Galiev
Stanislav Galiev is a Russian ice hockey left winger currently playing for the Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL...

 
August 24, 2011 3 years, $1.855 million entry-level contract
Jason Chimera
Jason Chimera
Jason Chimera is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger and an alternate captain for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .-Pre-NHL:Chimera played his junior career in the WHL, for Medicine Hat and Brandon...

 
September 29, 2011 2 years, $3.5 million contract extension

Draft picks

Washington's selections at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft
2011 NHL Entry Draft
The 2011 NHL Entry Draft was the 49th NHL Entry Draft. It was held on June 24–25, 2011, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was the first time the Draft was held in the state of Minnesota since the Minnesota North Stars hosted the 1989 NHL Entry Draft.The top three picks consisted...

.
Round # Player Position Nationality College/Junior/Club Team (League)
4 117 Steffen Soberg
Steffen Søberg
Steffen Søberg is a Norwegian professional ice hockey goaltender who has played in the GET-ligaen with Manglerud Star Ishockey....

G Manglerud Star
Manglerud Star Ishockey
Manglerud Star Ishockey is a Norwegian ice hockey team from Manglerud.The club has delivered more players to professional hockey leagues around the world than any other hockey team in Norway...

 (Norway
GET-ligaen
GET-ligaen is the premier Norwegian ice hockey league, organised by the Norwegian Ice Hockey Federation. The league was known as 1. divisjon until 1990, when it was reorganized and named Eliteserien . That name was held until 2004 when cable TV company UPC became main sponsor...

)
5 147 Patrick Koudys D Rensslaer
RPI Engineers men's ice hockey
The RPI Engineers men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The Engineers are a member of ECAC Hockey . They play at the Houston Field House in Troy, New York.- History :Men's ice...

 (ECAC)
6 177 Travis Boyd C USA U-18
USA Hockey National Team Development Program
The National Team Development Program was started in 1996 by USA Hockey as a way to identify elite ice hockey players in the country under the age of 18, and centralize their training. There are two teams in the program, an Under-17 squad and an Under-18 squad. The teams are both based in Ann...

 (USHL
United States Hockey League
The United States Hockey League is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 16 member teams located in the Midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger...

)
7 207 Garrett Haar D Fargo Force
Fargo Force
The Fargo Force is a Tier 1 junior ice hockey team in the Western Conference of the United States Hockey League .-History:In early 2007, Fargo was granted a USHL team, intended as an anchor tenant for the then-under-construction Urban Plains Center, which is now called Scheels Arena...

(USHL)
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