Ryan Chesley is now officially part of the Washington Capitals’ prospect pool.
On Friday, the 21-year-old defenseman inked his three-year entry-level contract with the Capitals. The deal carries an average annual value of \$923,333 at the NHL level and \$82,500 in the AHL.
Chesley was selected by Washington in the second round (37th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft. He has been with the Hershey Bears, the Capitals’ AHL affiliate, since April 2 under an amateur tryout agreement. He made an immediate impact, scoring his first AHL goal in his debut on April 6 and finishing the regular season with three points (1 goal, 2 assists) in four games.
Prior to turning pro, Chesley spent three seasons at the University of Minnesota, where he totaled 38 points (12 goals, 26 assists) in 115 games and served as a team captain. In his final season, he notched a career-best 20 points and led the team in blocked shots. He earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honors and helped Minnesota claim a share of the Big Ten title and a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Chesley also has significant international experience, having represented the United States at the World Junior Championship in both 2023 and 2024. He helped Team USA win bronze in 2023 and gold in 2024, serving as an alternate captain during the latter tournament. He averaged over 21 minutes of ice time per game and tallied four points (1 goal, 3 assists) in seven games, including a standout +2 rating in the gold medal win over Sweden.
