Washington Capitals sign WHL’s leading scorer Zac Funk to entry-level contract

The Washington Capitals have signed undrafted free agent Zac Funk to a three-year entry-level contract.

The contract will begin in 2024-25, with his deal carrying an AAV of $810,000 in the NHL and $82,500 in the AHL.

Funk leads the Western Hockey League in goals (56) and points (99) while playing for the Prince George Cougars. Standing at 6-foot and 210 pounds, Funk is a dominant force on the power play, highlighted by his 25 goals on the man advantage.

Born in Coldstream, B.C., Funk had 58 points between Prince George and Calgary during the 2022-23 season. He scored five goals and eight points in 10 postseason games, his first playoff run of his career.

It’s been a long journey for Funk, who made his WHL debut with the Hitmen in 2018-19 after getting drafted 43rd overall. He didn’t go full-time until the COVID-impacted 2020-21 season, putting up four goals and five points in 21 games. Funk played a bigger role with the Hitmen the following year with 22 goals and 41 points, but it wasn’t until the current season that he finally exploded offensively.

Funk is expected to play with one of Washington’s minor hockey affiliates next season, either with the AHL’s Hershey Bears or the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays. The late-blooming forward has shown good consistency with the puck this season, but turning pro is a whole other animal.

The Capitals are currently fifth in the wild-card race with 58 points, six behind the Detroit Red Wings in the final spot. The Caps are 3-5-2 over the past 10 games, but are riding a two-game winning streak. The Caps will host the Philadelphia Flyers tonight before welcoming the Arizona Coyotes to town on Sunday afternoon.

The Cougars hold the top spot in the WHL’s Western Conference with 40 wins and 83 points. They have a two-point advantage over Portland, and six six points behind Saskatoon for first in the league.