Beck’s Back: Capitals Reward Malenstyn With Two-Year Extension

ARLINGTON, V.A. — The Washington Capitals are getting down to business and addressing some of their restricted free agents and have re-signed left wing Beck Malenstyn to a two-year, $1.525 million extension.

The first year of the contract is a two-way deal that pays $750,000 at the NHL level and $110,000 at the AHL level. The second-year is a one-way deal that pays $775,000.

This deal is one that rewards Malenstyn’s potential to eventually make the NHL jump, as he has showcased his ability and promise to be a strong addition to the lineup in the future.

Malenstyn’s journey has been an interesting one. The 2016 fifth-rounder has been showcasing his work ethic, physicality, versatility and ability for years, and just before training camp in 2020, where he was a dark horse for a roster spot, he tore his entire Achilles during off-ice training. It took around six months for Malenstyn to return to the ice, and he ultimately rallied back to be ready for camp at the start of the year.

His hard work paid off, as the 24-year-old laced ’em up in 12 games with the Capitals this season, picking up his first career NHL goal and point, along with a whopping 34 hits, which led the team during his 12-game tenure from Nov. 24 to Dec. 19. Malenstyn spent the majority of the season in Hershey, dishing 10 goals and six assists in 65 games while ranking third on the team in game-winning goals (3).

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The 6-3, 200-pound forward is a hard-hitting player who can log heavy minutes, go hard in puck battles and play on the penalty kill. He’s a checking-line type of forward who can be aggressive on the forecheck and play a smart, aware game in his own end. Malenstyn takes good care of the puck, plays a strong two-way game and doesn’t shy away from throwing his weight around. His work ethic has also caught the attention of the coaching staff.

He has also explained clearly what type of player he wants to be for Washington going forward.

“I try to have a really clear identity on how I play,” Malenstyn said, adding, “I want to be that guy that’s first on the forecheck turning pucks over, reliable on the penalty kill,” Malenstyn said. “The biggest thing for me is just continuing to create offense within my game. I don’t need to be a guy who’s beating three guys in the corner coming in and making a play. It’s using my size, using my speed, getting pucks to the net and then finishing those opportunities when I’m around there.

“I’m often in those positions in the corners and in puck battles, [and I focused on] how can I pull myself out of that area with a) possession of the puck and b) awareness and time to make plays… I wasn’t working on coming in and beating people 1-on-1 all the time because it’s not realistic for my game. It was, ‘How can I create more offense with the situations that I find myself in?’”

Malenstyn joins Brett Leason as the other Hershey Bears/Capitals forward to sign an extension on Monday.