Capitals Sign Sonny Milano 1 Day After Strome

The Washington Capitals continue to put in work over the All-Star break as one day after signing Dylan Strome to a five-year, $5 million AAV contract, the team locks up Sonny Milano for three more years at $1.9 million AAV. This is good news for Milano as he has had a tough time sticking around a team despite strong play as a middle-six winger at a cheap cost.

The Anaheim Ducks didn't bring him back after his two-year contract was up despite him playing top-six minutes and scoring 14 goals and 34 points in 66 games. He then went unsigned in the offseason until the Calgary Flames gave him a professional tryout in which he was cut from. After this, whoever was to sign Milano this year was going to get a steal and Washington jumped at the opportunities with many early season injuries.

Milano may not have started the 2022-23 season off in the NHL, but the 26-year-old has solidified a spot in the middle-six and is being paid just $750,000 this season. He has eight goals and 22 points this season and is playing just as he did last season. Even with the Capitals' forward group being so packed, he has stuck around and in a key role.

With the move to sign Strome and Milano, the Capitals are shifting towards being a younger team and helping themselves out by locking up a few players in advance so that they have a better idea of what their team is going to look like heading into the offseason. This Milano signing is a good one, and if he keeps getting a chance, he is good for 15-20 goals and 40+ points each season.