The Washington Capitals announced Saturday that they have signed first-round pick Lynden Lakovic to a three-year, entry-level contract. The Capitals drafted Lakovic at last weekend’s NHL Entry Draft.
Capitals Sign Lakovic to Entry-Level Contract
Capitals announce they’ve signed 2025 first round pick Lynden Lakovic to a three-year entry-level contract (AAV of $975,000 at the NHL level and $85,000 in AHL Lakovic is expected to be loaned to the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League (WHL) for the 2025-26 season.
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) July 5, 2025
The deal will carry a value of $975,000 at the NHL level and $85,000 in the AHL.
Lakovic’s Plans
Lakovic is expected to return to the Western Hockey League to continue playing for the Moose Jaw Warriors.
Last season, Lakovic recorded a team-leading 58 points (27 goals and 31 assists) in 47 games for Moose Jaw. Furthermore, he was named the team’s captain in February.
Future Plans
It is unclear when to expect the 18-year old to make his NHL debut. Lakovic is showing a lot of promise in his young hockey career, so his NHL debut may be on the horizon.
Given the Capitals status as a playoff contender, there may not be a rush to get Lakovic to the NHL. On the other hand, should Lakovic continue to develop and show strong potential, the Caps may want to add that offence to their roster sooner rather than later. It would not be the first time a prospect joined a NHL team in the midst of a playoff chase. We saw that just last year with Jimmy Snuggerud. In fact, Cale Makar made his NHL debut during the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2019.
At the end of the day. it will come down to the current needs of the Capitals and the Lakovic’s progress. When Lakovic does make his debut, however, he will bring a physical prescence to the Caps lineup in addition to his offensive capabilities.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee- Imagn Images
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