Washington Capitals sign Ryan Hofer to three year, Entry-Level Contract

The Washington Capitals continue to stay busy during deadline week, this time signing one of their own. The Capitals announced Wednesday that they have signed Western Hockey League forward Ryan Hofer to a three-year, entry-level contract. According to our friends at CapFriendly, the contract carries a cap hit of $851,000. He will be paid $82,000 during his time in the AHL.

Hofer, 20, was drafted in the sixth round (181st overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-3, 181-pound center plays a hard-nosed game. Last season, while with the Everett Silvertips, he registered 58 points (25 goals, 33 assists) and 84 penalty minutes in 67 games. This season, Hofer was part of a monstrous trade that saw him and Anaheim Ducks prospect Olen Zellweger go to the Kamloops Blazers in exchange for four roster players and 10 draft picks, it is considered to be one of the biggest trades in major junior history. The Blazers host the 2023 Memorial Cup, part of the reason for them going “all in”. He joined a team that has been led predominantly by Dallas Stars’ top prospect Logan Stankoven who held a 35-game point streak this season. Hofer has tallied 22 points (13 goals, nine assists) and 30 penalty minutes in 17 games since joining the Blazers and playing on a line with New York Islanders prospect Daylan Kuefler.

Hofer is also the younger brother of St. Louis Blues goaltender Joel Hofer. In case his surname sounds familiar. The younger Hofer will have the chance to compete in the 2023 Memorial Cup before embarking on his NHL journey. Expect Hofer to begin his development with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League during the 2023-24 campaign.