5 - Number of defensemen currently signed with the Caps through next season. Newcomer Rasmus Sandin (signed through 2023-24) joins newly re-signed blueliner Nick Jensen (through 2025-26) and John Carlson (through 2025-26) on the current roster, with Lucas Johansen (2023-24) and Vincent Iorio (2024-25) round out the group.
Of that group of five, only three have played a game for the Caps (and Johansen’s contribution to that is a mere three NHL games of experience).
It’s likely, although not a guarantee, that the Caps will re-sign pending RFAs Alex Alexeyev and Martin Fehervary at some point this summer.