The Washington Capitals announced Friday they have signed D Ryan Chesley to a three-year entry-level deal, worth an AAV of $923,333 in the NHL and $82,500 in the AHL.
Chesley was the 37th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, and completed three seasons at the University of Minnesota before playing four games with AHL Hershey in April – scoring one goal and notching two assists in those four games on an amateur tryout agreement.
The 21-year-old had 12 goals, 26 assista, and a +34 rating in 115 games with the Golden Gophers in his three collegiate seasons, and was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten last season after being Second Team All-Conference in 2023-24.
Chesley also has extensive international experience, playing for the USA in the IIHF World Junior Championships in 2023 and 2024, winning bronze and gold, respectively.
It’s likely Chesley will spend most if not all of the 2025-26 season in Hershey, but three of the Caps’ Top 6 defensemen entering their final guaranteed years – John Carlson and Trevor Van Riemsdyk will be UFAs next summer, while Martin Fehervary will be a restricted free agent.