The Washington Capitals have made their first move of the offseason, acquiring forward Justin Sourdif from the Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick and 2027 sixth-round pick.
Sourdif, 23, was the Panthers’ third-round pick in 2020 and is a restricted free agent after finishing his three-year entry-level deal with Florida, which saw him play in three games in 2023-24 and one last season – where he scored his first and only NHL goal.
He has spent most of the last three seasons with Charlotte in the AHL, scoring 35 goals and tallying 61 assists in 149 games, including 16 goals and 18 helpers in 43 games last season. He also has six goals and seven assists in 27 Calder Cup Playoff games, including four goals and six assists in 18 games this past season.
The restricted free agency status means Sourdif will have to clear waivers to be assigned to the AHL, and that squeezed him out of a potential roster spot in Florida – but his versatility may benefit a Washington team that will see Anthony Beauvillier, Lars Eller, Andrew Mangiapane, and Taylor Raddysh all hit unrestricted free agency this summer.