The Washington Capitals announced they re-signed forward Nic Dowd to a two-year, $6 million contract extension on Wednesday morning. Dowd was set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Dowd’s new deal carries an annual average value of $3 million, which is a $1.7 million raise from his most recent deal with the Capitals. Spencer Carbery announced the deal privately to players during a film session.
“Nic has been an integral member of our team, both on the ice and in our leadership group, and we are excited to extend his contract for an additional two years,” general manager Chris Patrick said in a statement. “During his time in Washington, Nic has proven to be a consistent and reliable two-way player who can be trusted in all situations. This signing solidifies our depth at the critical center position as we move forward. Off the ice, Nic has been a consummate professional and has made significant contributions to our community through his charitable efforts.”
The extension will see Dowd remain under contract with the Capitals through the 2026-27 season. The 34-year-old center has been with the Caps for the last seven seasons, originally signing a one-year, $650k contract in free agency during the 2018 offseason.
Dowd has set new career highs in goals (14) and points (27) in 81 games this season. He is the team’s primary checking-line center and their first penalty-killing forward over the boards. Among all NHL forwards, he averages the fourth most shorthanded ice time per game (2:35).
The Capitals recently surprised Dowd with the Caps Care Community Award for his work with his player program, Dowd’s Crowd, which provides children with sensory needs the ability to attend and enjoy a Capitals game. Dowd’s wife, Paige, and the couple’s two kids, Louie and Ruby, surprised him with the award in the Capitals’ locker room last week.
With Dowd locked up, the Caps now have their top three centers, including Dylan Strome and Pierre-Luc Dubois, signed for at least the next two seasons.
Here’s the full press release from the Capitals:
Capitals Re-sign Nic Dowd
Veteran center has set career highs in goals and points this season
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have re-signed center Nic Dowd to a two-year, $6 million contract extension, senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick announced today. Dowd’s contractwill carry an average annual value of $3 million.
“Nic has been an integral member of our team, both on the ice and in our leadership group, and we are excited to extend his contract for an additional two years,” said Patrick. “During his time in Washington, Nic has proven to be a consistent and reliable two-way player who can be trusted in all situations. This signing solidifies our depth at the critical center position as we move forward. Off the ice, Nic has been a consummate professional and has made significant contributions to our community through his charitable efforts.”
Dowd, 34, has recorded a career-high 27 points (14g, 13a) in 81 games this season. Dowd’s 14 goals and 81games played are also single-season career highs. The 2024-25 season has been Dowd’s most productive offensive campaign, despite him having the lowest five-on-five offensive zone start percentage (11.8%) in the NHL among forwards with at least 20 games played. Dowd ranks first among Capitals forwards and fourth among NHL forwards in shorthanded ice time per game (2:35) and third among Washington centers in ice time per game (15:10), behind only Dylan Strome (17:26) and Pierre-Luc Dubois (17:20). Dowd’s 2:35 ofshorthanded ice time per game is the highest average of his career, while his 15:10 of ice time marks his secondhighest single-season average (2023-24: 15:12). The 6’2”, 190-pound center also ranks second on Washinton in face-off wins (589) and tied for second in shorthanded goals (2).
Dowd was the recipient of the organization’s second-annual Caps Care Community Award in honor of his efforts in the community during the 2024-25 season. Dowd was heavily involved in the community during the 2024-25 season, including through his participation in his own player program, Dowd’s Crowd. In 2018, Dowd and his wife, Paige, created Dowd’s Crowd to provide children with sensory needs with the ability to attend and enjoy a Capitals game. Tickets to the game and a Dowd’s Crowd-branded sensory kit filled with items to accommodate sensory needs are provided to recipients who are selected through local organizations and schools. They also receive a tour of the sensory room at Capital One Arena and meet Dowd postgame.
Dowd, who signed with the Capitals as a free agent on July 1, 2018, is in his seventh season with Washington. Since making his Capitals debut on Oct. 3, 2018, the Huntsville, Alabama native ranks first on the team in face-off wins (2,972), second in plus-minus (+47) and shorthanded points (8), third in games played (450), seventh in goals (75) and ninth in points (150).
Dowd was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the seventh round (198th overall) of the 2009 NHL draft. In 581 career games with Washington, Vancouver and Los Angeles, Dowd has registered 176 points (84g, 92a).
