Jakob Chychrun, Washington Capitals (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Capitals Sign Jakob Chychrun to 8-Year Contract Extension

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Christopher Babos | Last updated Mar 25, 2025 12:26 PM ET

On Tuesday morning, the Washington Capitals announced an eight-year, $72 million contract extension for defenseman Jakob Chychrun. The 6-foot-2 blueliner has been excellent in his first season with the Capitals, with a career-high 43 points through 65 games. The top-4 defenseman has tied a career-best with 18 goals, and his +24 plus/minus rating is his best during his near decade in the NHL.

Washington acquired Chychrun from the Ottawa Senators over the summer for defenseman Nick Jensen and a 2026 third-round pick. Chychrun was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2024-25 season. Therefore, his contract extension kicks in next season and runs through 2032-33. The nine-year NHL veteran earns a significant raise from his $4.6 million cap hit in 2025 to a $9 million cap number next season.

Chychrun debuted as an 18-year-old blueliner and spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Arizona Coyotes. He posted 170 points in 373 games for Arizona before being traded to Ottawa on March 1, 2023, for draft assets. He skated in 94 games for the Senators over two seasons before being moved to Washington on July 1, 2024.

This is the third long-term contract the Capitals front office has handed out this season. In January, Washington extended goaltender Logan Thompson for six seasons. Earlier this month, Washington locked up the other member of the goalie duo, Charlie Lindgren, to a three-year, $9 million contract.

The Capitals (47-15-8) return to action tonight against the Winnipeg Jets (48-19-4) at the Canada Life Centre for a battle between the two teams in contention for the Presidents’ Trophy, the award for the NHL’s best regular season record. Chychrun is currently listed as day-to-day after suffering an injury on Saturday during the first period of Washington’s win over the Florida Panthers.