Capitals Re-sign Shepard and McIlrath, sign forwards Dubé and Phillips

The Washington Capitals have re-signed goaltender Hunter Shepard to a two-year, two-way contract ($775,000/$350,000), defenseman Dylan McIlrath to a two-year, two-way contract ($775,000/$525,000), forward Pierrick Dubé to a two-year, two-way entry level contract ($870,000/$82,500) and forward Matthew Phillips to a one-year $775,000 one-way contract, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.

Shepard, 27, appeared in 33 games with Hershey last season, posting a record of 20-8-5 with a 2.18 goals-against average, a .916 save percentage and one shutout. The Cohasset, Minnesota native ranked second among AHL goaltenders in goals-against average and tied for sixth in save percentage. Shepard was named the AHL Goaltender of the Month in Nov. 2022 after registering a 6-0-0 record with a 1.63 goals-against average and a .936 save percentage. Shepard, who started all 20 Calder Cup Playoff games for the Bears, posted a 14-6 record with a 2.27 goals-against average, a .914 save percentage and three shutouts. The 6'0", 222-pound goaltender won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy, awarded to the MVP of the Calder Cup Playoffs. In 45 career AHL games with Hershey, Shepard has a record of 28-11-5-3 with a 2.07 goals-against average, a .922 save percentage and three shutouts.

McIlrath, Hershey's captain, recorded 13 assists and a team-leading 102 penalty minutes in 60 regular-season games with Hershey this season. McIlrath's 13 assists were an AHL single-season career high. The Winnipeg, Manitoba native added two points (1g, 1a) and 44 penalty minutes in 20 playoff games during the Bears' run to the Calder Cup championship. McIlrath also registered one assist and seven penalty minutes in six games with Washington in 2022-23. The 6'5", 232-pound defenseman has appeared in 72 career NHL games with the Capitals, New York Rangers, Florida Panthers and Detroit Red Wings, recording six points (3g, 3a) and 128 penalty minutes. In 560 career AHL games, McIlrath has registered 113 points (27g, 86).

Dubé, 22, recorded 32 points (16g, 16a) in 44 games with the Laval Rocket of the AHL in 2022-23. The Lyon, France native ranked first among Laval rookies in points-per-game (0.73) and plus/minus (+10). The 5'9", 172-pound forward also appeared in nine games with the Trois-Rivières Lions of the ECHL, recording 14 points (9g, 5a). Prior to making his professional debut in 2021-22, Dubé recorded 149 points (75g, 74a) in 219 career games in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Quebec Remparts, Chicoutimi Saguenéens and Shawinigan Cataractes, including a career-high 45 points (19g, 26a) in 56 games with Quebec in 2019-20.

Phillips, 25, recorded 76 points (36g, 40a) in 66 games with the Calgary Wranglers of the AHL in 2022-23. Phillips led the AHL's top-regular season team in scoring and ranked second in the AHL in goals and fifth in points. Phillips, a sixth-round draft pick (166th overall) of the Calgary Flames in 2016, has played three career NHL games with the Flames, including two games this past season. The 5'8", 160-pound forward was named to the AHL's First All-Star Team in 2022-23 and played in the AHL's All-Star Game in 2020. In 265 career AHL games, Phillips has registered 237 points (103g, 134a). The Calgary, Alberta native played four seasons in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Victoria Royals, recording 281 points (136g, 145a) in 215 career games.