Washington Capitals lock in $84M and $50.8M deals just before new NHL rules kick in
The Washington Capitals rushed to sign forwards Ryan Leonard and Justin Sourdif to multi-year contracts before the new NHL collective agreement took effect, which shortens the maximum contract length from eight to seven seasons.
With the NHL's new season now formally underway, the league's new collective bargaining agreement has also taken effect, reducing the maximum length of player contracts from eight seasons to seven. The Washington Capitals managed to finalize two eight-year deals just before the change applied to them.
The 21-year-old forward Ryan Leonard signed an eight-year, $84 million contract, averaging $10.5 million per season. Justin Sourdif, 24, agreed to an eight-year deal worth $50.8 million, or $6.35 million annually.
Both new contracts will only take effect next summer. For the current season, Leonard will earn $950,000, while Sourdif will earn $825,000, currently making him the lowest-paid forward on the Capitals' roster.
Leonard, selected in the first round of the 2023 draft, played his first full NHL season last year, recording 45 points (20 goals, 25 assists) in 75 games. Among rookies, he ranked third in power-play points with 14.
Sourdif also had his first full NHL season last year, though it was his first with Washington — the club acquired him from the Florida Panthers in June 2025 in exchange for two draft picks. He posted 35 points (15 goals, 20 assists) in 78 games.
