The Capitals didn’t just chase headline-grabbing names this offseason. They also added a layer of depth that could matter just as much once the games start counting, and Justin Holl is right in the middle of that plan.
Washington signed the veteran defenseman to a one-year deal on the opening day of free agency. It’s a one-way contract worth $900,000 at the NHL and AHL levels, and it gives the Capitals another experienced right-shot option on the blue line.
Holl’s path to Washington comes with a built-in connection, too. He already knows head coach Spencer Carbery from their time together with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Carbery made it clear this summer that he values what Holl brings.
"I worked with him in Toronto for a couple years, he's a very, very reliable veteran, penalty kill, right shot," Carbery said. "I think we're in a really good spot from a depth standpoint of some signings that might not quite be as flash, but are really, really solid."
At 34, Holl brings nine years of NHL experience, even if most of last season was spent in the AHL before his trade to the St. Louis Blues. The 6-foot-4, 194-pound defenseman has built his game around staying composed, limiting errors and using his size and positioning to handle tough defensive minutes.
That profile gives Washington something useful: a steady, defense-first option who can slide into third-pairing work, handle different roles and be ready if injuries or lineup changes create a need. His style also pairs neatly with more attack-minded defenders like Jakob Chychrun and Cole Hutson, since Holl can stay home while his partners push the play.
The Capitals also have a very specific need on the right side. Rasmus Sandin, who moved to the right late last season, is expected to be out until at least January, so Holl gives Washington some insurance there.
Still, nothing is locked in yet. Training camp will decide plenty, and Holl will have to hold off competition from young players like David Gucciardi and Ryan Chesley, while also battling Dylan McIlrath for the extra defenseman role McIlrath has owned in recent years.
Even if Holl doesn’t crack the NHL roster, he gives Washington a dependable option in the organization. And if he ends up in Hershey, he would still be a meaningful addition for the AHL’s Bears, who have made several key moves of their own this summer and are aiming for a longer run this time around.
In Other News...
Capitals Prospects Are Starting To Get The Kind Of League Attention Fans Notice
Cole Hutson and Andrew Cristall are getting a little more league-wide attention, and for Capitals fans that usually means the prospect pipeline is starting to look as real as advertised. Both players were invited to the 2026 NHLPA Rookie Showcase in Chicago, a gathering of more than 20 invitees that gives the NHL and NHLPA a chance to put some of their most promising young names in front of a wider audience.
For Washington, the timing is notable because the showcase has become a small but useful sign of which prospects are being viewed as the next wave of recognizable talent. The event has also shifted from Arlington, Va., to Chicago this year, where it will run alongside the National Sports Collectors Convention, adding a little more visibility to a pair of Capitals prospects already drawing interest beyond the organization. [Read more 🡒]
Dylan Strome Faces Real Pressure As Capitals Reload Around Him
The Capitals have spent the offseason reshaping the roster around Alex Ovechkin, and that kind of activity tends to ripple through the lineup. For Dylan Strome, it means the pressure is not just about keeping his place in the middle of a contending team, but about proving he can still drive offense as Washington heads toward the 2026-27 season. His production dipped last year after a point-per-game pace the season before, and the team is clearly looking for more from a group that is being built to score more efficiently.
Stromes role could look different once the new pieces settle in, with Washington open to moving him down the lineup if the additions demand it. There is also a broader need for the Capitals to get more out of the power play under assistant coach Ray Bennett, which only raises the stakes for a player whose value has long been tied to finishing chances and helping the attack run through the middle of the ice. [Read more 🡒]
Capitals Suddenly Have One Lineup Problem Fans Didn't See Coming
The Capitals spent the offseason reshaping their forward group, and the ripple effects are already easy to see. Alex Tuch is in the mix after joining the roster, Dylan Strome and Pierre-Luc Dubois remain central to the plan, and Spencer Carbery now has to sort out a lineup that looks deeper and more crowded than it did a year ago. Even with Alex Ovechkin expected to move around as needed, the bigger question is how all of those pieces fit together without forcing productive players into awkward spots.
Tom Wilson is one of the names whose usage could change the most, and the battle for bottom-six roles adds another layer to the puzzle. Boone Jenner and Andrew Cristall are part of the conversation, while the rest of the roster still has the look of a team trying to balance new scoring options with the identity that has carried it for years. The defense and goaltending remain largely familiar, but the forward group is where the Capitals may have the most interesting decisions still ahead. [Read more 🡒]