NHL free agency for 2020 is underway!
For each key signing, Emily Kaplan, Chris Peters and Greg Wyshynski will be assessing the player’s fit with his new team, weighing whether the terms of the contract make sense, and serving up an overall grade.
We’ll be grading the most notable offseason signings below, so come back for updates as deals are completed throughout the fall.
Free agency: Tracker | Team-by-team | Top 60
Trades: Grading every big deal
Draft recap: Every pick | Grades | Takeaways
Terms: 1 year, $1.5 million
Where does he fit? The Capitals parted with longtime (and Stanley Cup-winning) goaltender Braden Holtby in free agency because they were looking to save money but also to give 23-year-old Ilya Samsonov his chance. Samsonov has been one of the Capitals’ most-hyped prospects ever since being drafted No. 22 overall in 2015. He will enter next season as the primary starter. GM Brian MacLellan said the team was looking for a veteran backup, and that’s exactly what Lundqvist is at this stage in his career. With next season’s schedule in flux, Lundqvist could see more starts than a typical backup, especially with an expected good share of back-to-backs.