The Washington Capitals announced on Wednesday that the team has re-signed center Nic Dowd to a two-year contract extension that carries a $3 million cap hit. Dowd, who will turn 35 on May 27, could have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Dowd has set career-highs in goals (14), points (27), and games played (81) this season. He has won .498 of the faceoffs he has taken. Dowd has also recorded a .5122 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage and averaged 2:35 per game on the penalty kill, which leads Capitals forwards.
“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 GM Chris Patrick 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.”
In 581 career regular-season games with Washington, the Los Angeles Kings, and Vancouver Canucks, Dowd has 84 goals, 176 points, and a .509 faceoff winning percentage.
Nic Dowd, signed to a 2x$3M extension by WSH, is a veteran bottom six shutdown centre and penalty killer. #AllCaps pic.twitter.com/bcpXCPLD7b
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) April 16, 2025
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.
Graphic: @CapitalsPR
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).
Washington, who re-signed goaltender Logan Thompson to a six-year contract extension ($5.85 million cap hit) on January 27 and goaltender Charlie Lindgren to a three-year contract extension ($3 million cap hit) on March 3, defenseman Jakob Chychrun to an eight-year contract extension ($9 million cap hit) on March 25, and defenseman Dylan McIlrath to a two-year contract extension ($800,000 cap hit) on March 27, has $78,375,000 committed on their salary cap next season. Left-wings Andrew Mangiapane and Anthony Beauvillier, centers Lars Eller, and right-wing Taylor Raddysh are all eligible to hit unrestricted free agency on July 1 at 12 noon ET. Defenseman Alexander Alexeyev and center Hendrix Lapierre could become restricted free agents that day.
The team clinched the top seeds in the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference heading into the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 51-21-9 record (.685 points percentage).
The Capitals finish the regular season at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday (7 PM ET, ESPN out-of-market) and will face either the Montreal Canadiens or Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round.
