Vincent Desharnais signed a four-year, $16.8 million contract with the Washington Capitals on Wednesday.
The deal has an average annual value of $4.2 million.
"I think that it’s a good fit for me," Desharnais said. "The talks we had, it was very positive where they saw me in my role, not someone I’m not, and that’s what I want to do. I want to go to a team that wanted me for the role that I can bring. I don’t want to be someone I’m not, and I love that. I love that every talk, it was super positive, you know helping younger guys, (Cole) Hutson and trying to help his D side and being able to play with guys that have more offense and just kind of me taking care of our back end. So, those were all things that were very interesting for me, and, obviously, stability.
“Being able to get four years is huge for me. I've never had. The last time I was four years at the same place was in college. It was the best four years of my life, so, hey, let's do it again. Let's get what the best four years of my life again."
The 30-year-old defenseman has seven points (one goal, six assists) and averaged an NHL career-high 18:11 per game in 53 games for the San Jose Sharks last season. He was second among Sharks defensemen in blocked shots (83) and third in hits (103). His plus-7 rating was second best on the Sharks behind Macklin Celebrini (plus-8).
Among NHL defensemen with at least 50 games played, the 30-year-old ranked fourth in short-handed ice time per game (3:14) and 15th in hits per 60 minutes (6.14).
Selected in the seventh round (No. 183) by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2016 NHL Draft, he has 26 points (two goals, 24 assists) in 218 regular-season games with the Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins and Sharks.
