Ethen Frank, Washington Capitals (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Ethen Frank Lands 2-Year Contract Extension From Capitals

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Christopher Babos | Last updated Mar 4, 2026 1:30 PM ET

Ethen Frank signed a two-year, $4 million contract extension with the Washington Capitals on Wednesday morning. The extension carries an average annual value of $2 million and runs through 2027-28, and represents a $1.2 million increase on his current deal, which was set to expire following this season.

Frank has found a home alongside Nic Dowd and Brandon Duhaime on the fourth line of Spencer Carbery’s lineup this season, establishing new career highs in goals (11), assists (12), points (15), and games (53) while showcasing blazing fast speed in a checking role.

MORE FRANKY

The Washington Capitals have re-signed forward Ethen Frank to a two-year, $4 million contract extension. Frank’s contract will carry an average annual value of $2 million.#ALLCAPS | @Shift4
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 4, 2026

While his scoring can be streaky, Frank has scored multiple goals in three different games in 2025-26: at the Bell Centre against the Montreal Canadiens on Nov. 20, at Little Caesars Arena against the Detroit Red Wings on Dec. 21, and at Capital One Arena against the Canadiens on Jan. 13. He is still searching for the first hat trick of his short NHL career.

After making his NHL debut last January, Frank joined Alex Ovechkin and Andre Burakovsky as one of only six Capitals to record a point in each of his first three games. He finished the 2024-25 campaign with four goals and seven points in 24 games. He did not find a spot in Carbery’s postseason lineup.

Ethen Frank, Washington Capitals (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

The 28-year-old has been with the Capitals since he signed as an undrafted free agent out of Western Michigan University in 2021-22. He spent a handful of seasons learning the professional game with the Hershey Bears between 2022 and 2025, scoring 82 goals and 127 points in 164 games in the American Hockey League (AHL), including back-to-back Calder Cup championships in 2022-23 and 2023-24. Frank was selected as a member of the 2023 AHL All-Rookie team following a 30-goal season with the Bears.

Washington can now navigate the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline with the knowledge that an important piece of Carbery’s lineup is secured for the foreseeable future. The Capitals are expected to have $15 million in cap space to work with over the next few days, according to Puck Pedia, with several pending free agents, such as Trevor van Riemsdyk and John Carlson, who could intrigue playoff teams before Friday’s deadline.

Will general manager Chris Patrick strike while the iron is red hot with several teams on the hunt for a defenseman before Friday? At least Patrick can sleep soundly knowing he got Frank’s deal wrapped up on Wednesday morning.