Free agency is a crucial time of year for hockey teams off the ice. A critical add in July can often be the difference between a title and a playoff miss. Last year, the Washington Capitals had several key players arrive in free agency that factored into a Calder Cup title for the Hershey Bears. One year ago, the Capitals signed three players who played essential roles for the Bears.
Pierrick Dubé
Capital Gains
The Capitals scored big when free agency started by signing Pierrick Dubé to a two-year, entry-level contract. Dubé made his AHL debut with the Laval Rocket in 2022-23, racking up 32 points (16 goals, 16 assists) in 44 games. After skating on an AHL contract, the Montreal Canadiens did not act on the budding star. The Capitals swooped in on July 1, locking up the native of Lyon, France.
Dubé became an instantly essential member of the Bears in 2023-24. He tallied 28 goals, second only to Ethen Frank, and added 20 assists during the regular season. His count included seven on the power play as well as eight game-winners. Dubé made his NHL debut and played three games with the Capitals over the course of the year.
Playoff Hero
After a quiet start to the playoffs, Dubé played an essential role when it mattered most. He tallied the overtime winner in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Final, just his third point of the playoffs. He’d miss the next few games after losing numerous teeth in Game Three on a puck to the face. Dubé would not be denied, telling head coach Todd Nelson he’d suit up for Game Seven. Wearing extra protection for his face, Dubé scored on the power play in a 3-2 win in overtime for the Bears.
Dubé had a big moment in Game Seven by scoring the first playoff hat trick for the Bears in almost ten years. He scored the first hat trick by a Bear in the Calder Cup Finals since Alexandre Giroux in 2009. The sophomore sensation capped off the playoffs with ten points (seven goals, three assists) in 17 games played. Dubé is under contract through 2024-25 with the Caps.
Alex Limoges
Pride of Penn State
In a similar way to Dubé, the Capitals signed Alex Limoges on July 3 in a homecoming of sorts. Limoges, a native of Winchester, Virginia, played for the Washington Little Caps in his early playing days. He led the Manitoba Moose in scoring during his second full season in the AHL with 54 points. The Winnipeg Jets similarly let him walk on July 1, and Limoges signed a deal to return closer to home.
Not only is Limoges closer to home, he has more connection to the area. Limoges played college hockey for Penn State, making him their first alumni to suit up in a regular season game with Hershey. He turned pro after his final season in Happy Valley in 2021, but with Penn State only a few hours away, it became another homecoming for him.
Clutch Mode Activated
Limoges had a clutch performance in the Calder Cup Finals. In the six game series, Limoges racked up seven points (one goal, six assists) including three multi-point games. He set a new regular season high in goals with 24 and nearly matched his output in Manitoba with 51 points. At the playoff peak, Limoges had two assists in both Games five and Six. His line with Dubé and Jimmy Huntington stepped up in a major playoff performance.
Limoges is a restricted free agent entering free agency, meaning the Capitals have a big opportunity to extend his contract. It’d be a big chance for Limoges to try and make the big club in Washington in the fall. He’ll turn 27 prior to the new season in the fall as he looks to keep producing big numbers.
Chase Priskie
Back With the Caps
It was a homecoming in a different kind of way for defenseman Chase Priskie. The Capitals originally drafted the defender in the sixth round, 177th overall in 2016, but he didn’t sign there. He’d play for a few different teams before donning a Bears jersey at long last in 2023-24. Priskie was an extremely reliable player, skating in 69 of 72 total games for the Bears. His noted offensive skill showed as he led Hershey defensemen in points with 34 (eight goals, 26 assists) during the regular season.
Priskie’s prowess was particularly potent when the Bears missed several key regulars down the stretch. In the rare instance he made a mistake, he’d always recover with an equally brilliant play to make up for it. Like the other free agents, Priskie’s numbers were a single season best in his time in the AHL. Todd Nelson’s system paid massive dividends for them.
Playoff Performer
2024 was Priskie’s first deep playoff run at the AHL level, and his game carried over into the postseason. He’d tally 14 points (two goals, 12 assists) in all 20 games for the Bears, tied for the league lead among defenders. His plus-seven mark also led all Hershey defensemen. He’d tally an assist on Hendrix Lapierre’s goal late in the first period of Game Six with a shot from the point.
Priskie is set to be an unrestricted free agent when it opens up on July 1. His status doesn’t rule out a return to the organization, but doesn’t give them any special negotiation rights. If he leaves, it’ll be a massive loss on the blue line to fill in Hershey that will be one of the biggest tasks of the summer to fill. He has left a massive mark on a storied organization with an exemplary performance.
This Time Around
It’s an incredibly short turnaround for the organization after winning a championship. Free agency opens just one week after the Bears hoisted their 13th Calder Cup. The process to shape the 2024-25 Bears squad is already underway. It’ll be a tall task for the Caps brass as well as Bryan Helmer’s bunch in Hershey to capture lightning in a bottle once more. If anything, the 2023-24 Calder Cup Championship team is an excellent case study towards the importance of free agency.
