Facing mounting depth issues, the Washington Capitals brought back Brett Leason on Monday, signing the bottom-six forward to a one-year, two-way contract.

The deal is worth $775k at the NHL level, the veteran minimum, and $250k in the AHL.

In a corresponding move, the Capitals placed Leason on waivers for the purpose of sending him to the AHL’s Hershey Bears.

NEWS | The Washington Capitals have signed forward Brett Leason to a one-year, two-way contract ($775,000/$250,000). The Capitals place Leason on waivers for the purpose of loaning him to the Hershey Bears of the AHL.#ALLCAPS | @Shift4 https://t.co/JJ8697qWif

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 27, 2025

Leason was available after the Minnesota Wild released him from a professional tryout agreement during training camp and had signed a PTO with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers on October 13.

Leason formerly spent three seasons in the Capitals organization after the team selected him in the second round, 56th overall, in the 2019 NHL Draft. The Calgary native posted 47 points (18g, 29a) in 114 games for the Hershey Bears from 2019 through 2022 and chipped in six points (3g, 3a) in 36 NHL games with the Capitals during the 2021-22 season.

The next fall, the Capitals lost the 6-foot-5, 220-pound forward to a waiver claim by the Anaheim Ducks on October 10, 2022, as they tried to sneak the Canadian winger down to the minors. Leason would go on to play the next three seasons for the Ducks, posting 48 points (22g, 26a) in 184 games, which included a career-best season of 22 points (11g, 11a) during the 2023-24 season. Per the Capitals, Leason ranked fifth among Ducks forwards in shorthanded ice time (257:15) and sixth in hits (179) over his three seasons with the team.

Leason comes back to the organization after the Capitals granted Sheldon Rempal his release last week so he could pursue opportunities overseas, signing a big-money KHL contract with his former team, Salavat Yulaev, on Saturday. If Leason makes it through waivers, he would assume Rempal’s veteran forward spot on the team.

The Capitals are also dealing with injuries to Dylan Strome at the NHL level, recalling Ethen Frank from the AHL earlier in the day, while six different players are currently injured in Hershey. Forwards Ivan Miroshnichenko (upper body), Henrik Rybinski (upper body), Luke Toporowski (upper body), and Dalton Smith are dealing with issues, along with defensemen Nicky Leiverman (lower body) and Leon Muggli (upper body). The Bears have also come out of the gates slowly to start the season, losing four of their first six games.

Meanwhile, the Capitals have also seen checking-line forward Justin Sourdif, acquired over the offseason for two draft picks from the Florida Panthers, assume the third-line center spot as Hendrix Lapierre has begun playing wing, putting more onus on having a depth NHL checking-line forward option in Hershey.

Here’s the full press release from the Washington Capitals:

Capitals Sign Brett Leason
2019 draft pick returns to the organization

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have signed forward Brett Leason to a one-year, two-way contract, senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick announced today. Leason’s contract will carry an average annual value of $775,000 at the NHL level and $250,000 in the AHL. The Capitals place Leason on waivers for the purpose of loaning him to the Hershey Bears of the AHL.

Leason, 26, was originally drafted by the Capitals in the second round (56th overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft.

The 6’5”, 220-pound forward spent the previous three seasons with the Anaheim Ducks, registering 48 points (22g, 26a) in 184 games. During the 2023-24 season, Leason recorded a career-high 22 points (11g, 11a) in 68 contests. Leason, who was claimed off waivers from Washington on Oct. 10, 2022, ranked fifth among Ducks forwards in shorthanded ice time (257:15) and sixth in hits (179) over his three seasons with the team.

The Calgary, Alberta native recorded six points (3g, 3a) in 36 games with the Capitals during the 2021-22 season. Leason made his NHL debut on Oct. 29, 2021 against the Arizona Coyotes and finished the season ranked third among Capitals rookies in games played. Leason also made his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut on May 5, 2022 in Game 2 of the First Round at Florida.

In 220 career NHL games with Anaheim and Washington, Leason has recorded 54 points (25g, 29a).

Leason appeared in 114 games with Hershey from 2019-20 to 2021-22, tallying 47 points (18g, 29a). In addition, Leason scored one goal in two games during the 2022 Calder Cup Playoffs.