The Capitals have three months to decide if they want to sign two of their recent draft picks or lose them to free agency

"Joaquim Lemay, a fourth-round pick, and Chase Clark, a sixth-round pick, are set to become free agents on August 15, 2026, if the Capitals do not choose to ink them to entry-level contracts before then. From the team's 2021 draft class, which consisted of six players, only Vincent Iorio has been signed by the team."

"Lemay was selected out of the BCHL in 2021, spent one season in the USHL, and then played four seasons in the NCAA with the University of Nebraska-Omaha and Northeastern University. This past season, he played in just nine games due to injury, recording one lone assist. The 23-year-old defenseman was present at last summer's development camp, so he was still on the Capitals' radar going into this past year."

"Lemay is set to return to Northeastern for his final year of college hockey as a graduate student next season, serving as one of the Huskies' co-captains. Clark has also played the last four seasons in the NCAA, jumping between four different schools: Quinnipiac University, Sacred Heart University, American International College, and Canisius College. He appeared in 24 games this past year for Canisius and went 11-10-2 with a 2.73 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage."

"The 21-year-old backstop, who stands 6-foot-6-inches tall, has not been at a Capitals development camp since 2023. While Lemay and Clark are more pressing, the Capitals have seven other recent draft picks left unsigned from the past few drafts, including Brett Hyland, Miroslav Satan, Jackson Crowder, Maxim Schafer, Aron Dahlqvist, Antoine Keller, and Nicholas Kempf."

Joaquim Lemay and Chase Clark, selected in the 2021 NHL Draft, will become free agents on August 15, 2026 unless the Washington Capitals sign them to entry-level contracts. The 2021 draft class included six players, and only Vincent Iorio has been signed so far. Lemay, a defenseman, moved from the BCHL to the USHL and then played four NCAA seasons at the University of Nebraska-Omaha and Northeastern University. He appeared in nine games last season due to injury and recorded one assist, and he is expected to return to Northeastern as a graduate student and co-captain. Clark played four NCAA seasons across multiple schools and posted 11-10-2 with a 2.73 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage for Canisius. The Capitals have additional unsigned draft picks from recent years, including Brett Hyland, Miroslav Satan, Jackson Crowder, Maxim Schafer, Aron Dahlqvist, Antoine Keller, and Nicholas Kempf.

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