The Washington Capitals have added a nice depth piece to the organization in a former AHL MVP. The team has announced a one-year, two-way contract with Daniel Carr. The deal carries a minimum $700K salary in the NHL, but a sizeable $415K salary in the AHL. Carr is currently playing with HC Lugano in Switzerland’s NLA, which will continue after the club announced that a loan agreement has already been reached.
Carr, 28, has always been an elite scorer in the minors, but has struggled to translate that ability to the NHL. In the past with the Montreal Canadiens, he put up good numbers as a part-time player but was never elevated to a full-time role. The past two years, playing with the Vegas Golden Knights and Nashville Predators and their respective affiliates, he has been relegated to a full-year AHL role, making just a few appearances on recall. This is likely the part he will play in Washington as well; the Capitals are deep up front in the NHL, but lack difference-makers in the AHL. Carr will likely play a major role for Hershey will making a handful of appearances in Washington.
Of course, the status quo could shift depending on how the Capitals resolve their salary cap woes. The team is currently over the upper limit and that is accounting for just 20 players per CapFriendly, not including one-way contracts belonging to the likes of Daniel Sprong and recent signing Paul LaDue. Washington also need to re-sign RFA defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler. The team must move out some salary before the new season begins, and if that happens to be a top-nine forward then Carr could instead wind up with a permanent place in Washington as an experienced, affordable option.