Dylan McIlrath signed a two-year, $1.6 million contract with the Washington Capitals on Thursday. It has an average annual value of $800,000.
The 32-year-old defenseman could have been an unrestricted free agent after the season. He has two assists in 11 games this season.
“That’s for a first for me. I think the last one-way I had was 2016 or something like that," McIlrath said "So, huge stability for my family now having two kids, being able to put some roots down and get them in school, all little things like that really help you play when you know where you’re going to be.”
McIlrath has been with the Capitals organization since 2021 and was the captain of their American Hockey League affiliate in Hershey when it won the Calder Cup in 2023 and 2024. Selected by the New York Rangers with the No. 10 pick in the 2010 NHL Draft, McIlrath has nine points (three goals, six assists) in 86 regular-season games for the Capitals, Rangers, Florida Panthers and Detroit Red Wings, and no points in five Stanley Cup Playoff games.
"Someone that has become such a big part of our locker room and I know he hasn't played a ton of games," Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said, "but the guys have so much respect for him, coaches have so much respect for him and what he does and what he brings every day and his career path. Glad he was rewarded with that two-year, one-way deal."
NHL.com senior writer Tom Gulitti contributed to this report
