The Washington Capitals have signed forward Shane Gersich to his two-year entry-level contract, worth an average annual value of $925K. The deal will start right away and Gersich will join the Capitals on the road in Montreal, meaning that the first year of the deal will be used up in the 2017-18 season. The team has assigned Travis Boyd to the minor leagues to help with the cap ramifications.
Gersich, 21, was selected in the fifth round in 2014, but immediately broke out in the USHL and then continued his success through three years at the University of North Dakota. The 5’11” forward mixes good skating with an incredible work ethic to create offense, even leading a team that included Tyson Jost and Brock Boeser in scoring last season. Though Christian Wolanin took over that mantle this year, Gersich wasn’t far off with 29 points in 40 games.
He’ll get into the lineup right away for the Capitals to try and inject some youth and excitement into a roster that is attempting to lock down first place in the Metropolitan. Though Washington currently sits on top, the surging Blue Jackets and pesky Penguins are still within striking distance.