Capitals Make a Splash to Open Free Agency

July 1, 2026

The Washington Capitals, the National Hockey League affiliate of the Hershey Bears, made several big moves as NHL Free Agency opened on July 1.

Up front, the Capitals added veteran forward Boone Jenner on a four-year, $23 million contract. Jenner posted 38 points (13g, 25a) in 67 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets last season. He captained the club for the last five seasons and is Columbus' all-time leader in games played, having scored 421 points (212g, 209a) in 808 career games with the Blue Jackets.

On the backend, Washington added defenseman Vincent Desharnais, signing him to a four-year, $16.8 million contract. The 6'7", 225-pound rearguard recorded seven points (1g, 6a) and averaged a career-high 18:11 of ice time in 53 games with the San Jose Sharks in 2025-26.

Washington also announced a trio of one-year, one-way depth signings, adding forwards Johnny Brodzinski ($850,000) and Josh Dunne ($850,000) and defender Justin Holl ($900,000) to the organization.

Brodzinski had 16 points (6g, 10a) in 55 games last year for the New York Rangers and has played 264 career NHL games. His last AHL action occurred during the 2023-24 season when he appeared in 16 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack, scoring 25 points (11g, 14a). He played parts of four seasons with the Wolf Pack from 2020-24, and he was named the club's captain ahead of the 2021-22 campaign. He was an AHL All-Star with Ontario in 2017 and has scored 267 points (126g, 141a) in 313 career AHL games.

Dunne scored one goal in two games with the AHL's Rochester Americans last season, but spent the majority of the year with the NHL's Buffalo Sabres, logging four points (1g, 3a) in 34 games. Dunne has played 204 career AHL games with the Cleveland and Rochester, scoring 95 points (47g, 48a). During the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs, Dunne helped the Monsters reach the Eastern Conference Finals where they fell to the Bears in seven games. In the series, Dunne led Cleveland with seven points (4g, 3a) and finished second on the club in playoff scoring with 11 points (7g, 4a).

Holl appeared in nine games with the NHL's St. Louis Blues last season, scoring two points (1g, 1a). He also skated in 41 games with the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins, collecting 14 points (2g, 12a) in 41 games. Holl, who has played 405 career NHL games for Toronto, Detroit, and St. Louis, won the Calder Cup with the Toronto Marlies in 2018.