Penguins
Another D-man: Penguins Sign Big Capitals Defensemen
Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas continued to nibble away at the NHL free agent market Wednesday afternoon. After a handful of depth and second-chance forward signings, Dubas added his second left-handed blue liner with former Washington Capitals D-man Alexander Alexeyev.
Alexeyev, 25, played in only eight games last season, eight in the NHL and three with the Hershey Bears of the AHL under current Penguins assistant coach Todd Nelson. The defenseman is a towering rearguard at 6-foot-4, 229 pounds, though he is more positional than physical. He played in all 10 Capitals’ playoff games despite suffering a high-stick in Game One, Round One that cost him three teeth.
The ice crew later found two of the teeth.
Alexeyev was the Capitals’ first-round pick in 2018 (31st overall). Last season, he was pointless in his eight regular-season games and 10 playoff contests. He had four penalty minutes in the playoffs. Since 2021, the Russian defenseman has played in 80 career NHL games, all with the Capitals, tallying one goal, seven assists, and eight points.
His deal is one year for $775,000. He is the eighth defenseman currently on the Penguins’ NHL roster. Dubas also signed lefty Parker Wortherspoon on Tuesday.
Yay, big LHD guys!!
But Graves is big too. What matters is that they play hard, good defense, and use their body. Too many of these big guys are just big pylons. Still, excited for new additions and competition for roster spots!
Buy out Graves or send him to Wilkes Barre. Hopefully he’s not on the team next season
Agree he needs to go.
Yaaaaaaaaay!
Without Sully this is Dubas guy is all the sudden interesting
probably thank Sully for his influence that 1st summer too
Was he hurt last year?
No, Sully was pretty healthy all year.
Caps were afraid to send him thru waivers, so put him in the press box most of the season. He may be their best signing so far.
This signing has Todd Nelson’s fingerprints all over it.
He’s a fighter (was arrested last month in a street fight at 3am) look it up. If paired correctly could be a 20 pts scorer as he was twice in Hershey. His biggest weakness trying to force his offensive play leaving himself & defensive partner vulnerable.
In other words, an bigger EK65 without the talent.
Some of these guys hopefully bodyguards. See the faces of Ryan M. & Kelly B in the Pittsburgh papers, circa 2003-04, that was ole Craig Patrick. This guy 7years from draft year. also projecting, w multiple top picks, team can be 6 years from SCF appearance.
I really don’t know what people are looking at, this guy was one of the Caps best players in the playoffs. He was always dangerous. Could be his problem that appears he is and doesn’t finish, hits or goals, but definitely worth a shot at that price. And not old. Certainly better than keeping POJ
Agree there. Give him a chance. Anything is better than Graves and P.O. Joseph. Release him bring him back and still sucks.
Can’t be p.o.’d about P.O. any more. Duby sucks the fun out of everything.
I think the trade of Ned allows the pens for 3 goaltenders on roster. 1 carry 2 blomquist and 3 murgashov. It will allow both blow and merge some time of acclimation to the nhl level…both can go back to was bany pens without having to clear wavers and a few games her and there allow for a good look at the near future and gives them the skill sets to improve upon over the next season to be full time nhl goalies sooner rather then mabe later