Capitals choose not to extend qualifying offer to Alex Alexeyev

The Washington Capitals appear to be moving on from defenseman Alex Alexeyev.

Monday, the Capitals chose not to tender a qualifying offer to the arbitration-eligible restricted free agent before Monday’s 5 PM deadline. With the decision, Alexeyev will become an unrestricted free agent and can sign with any team at noon on Tuesday, July 1, unless he and the Capitals can work something out before then.

The news comes two days after Caps GM Chris Patrick suggested the team would look elsewhere to get the Russian rearguard more playing time.

“He’s a young guy that didn’t get to play a bunch of games this year,” Patrick said. “I think it’s important for him to get an opportunity at the NHL level, if that’s with us or if that’s with somebody else,” he said. “So we’re going to be as helpful as we can to him to get him the best opportunity to play in the NHL next year.”

Patrick also would not comment on whether the team planned to qualify Alexeyev.

“I’ll let that come out at the right time,” he said.

Alexeyev, a Capitals’ first-round pick, 31st overall in the 2018 NHL Draft, spent six seasons in the organization. He was with the Capitals for nearly the entire 2024-25 season, minus a brief AHL conditioning stint with the Hershey Bears in early March.

The 25-year-old defender appeared in eight regular-season games for the Capitals, posting no points and seven shots on goal along with 16:04 of average ice time. Due to Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery going with the same six starting defensemen most nights, Alexeyev sat out from November 8 through April 12, a span of five months and four days.

Alexeyev became a regular in the playoffs when Martin Fehervary was lost to a knee injury, playing in all 10 of the Caps’ postseason games. Alexeyev had six shots on goal and finished with a plus-minus of minus-2, receiving only 10:25 average ice time in the playoffs.

Over parts of four NHL seasons, Alexeyev has recorded eight points (1g, 7a) in 80 games for the Capitals.

Shortly after this past season concluded, Alexeyev made local headlines when he was pepper-sprayed and arrested for public intoxication and having a physical altercation in Clarendon. Alexeyev was charged with public intoxication, a class 4 misdemeanor, and ultimately issued a $91 fine.