Capitals Sign Ethen Frank

Ethen Frank has been playing All-Star hockey down at the AHL level with the Hershey Bears, and it has earned him an NHL contract from the Washington Capitals.

Washington signed Frank to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2023-24 season, general manager Brian MacLellan announced on Thursday. The deal will pay $775,000 at the NHL level and $205,000 at the AHL level. 

Back in April, Frank earned a one-year pro deal to join the AHL's Hershey Bears following an impressive five-year NCAA run at Western Michigan University, where he had 118 points in 158 collegiate games. In his final year with the Broncos, he had 26 goals and 13 assists in 38 games and led the NCAA Division I in goals while also leading his team in shots (141).

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Frank has hit the ground running in his first professional hockey season and has dished 24 goals and 17 assists for 41 points in 45 games this season. He leads all AHL rookies in goals and is second among AHL freshmen in scoring. The 25-year-old also set an AHL All-Star record and made headlines with a 12.915-second lap in the fastest skater competition.

For Washington, bringing Frank on board gives the team more forward depth while helping inject youth into the lineup. Frank is a right-handed shot and strong skater who loves to shoot the puck and can make plays on the fly. The 5-10, 178-pound forward also has a +/- rating of plus-15 and can play well at both ends.