Thursday, July 2, 2015

Capitals Sign Justin Williams

Justin Williams signs with the Caps

From our friends at the Washington Capitals...

Three-Time Stanley Cup Champion and Conn Smythe Winner Joins Capitals

The Washington Capitals have signed right wing Justin Williams to a two-year, $6.5 million contract, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced yesterday.

"Justin is a proven winner and we feel he will be a great addition to our club," said MacLellan. "We felt it was important for our team to add someone of his caliber, as a hockey player and as a veteran leader."

Williams, 33, registered 41 points (18 goals, 23 assists) in 81 games with the Los Angeles Kings last season. The 6’1”, 190-pound right wing finished the season ranked fourth among Kings skaters in goals, tied for fourth in power-play goals (4), sixth in assists and tied for sixth in points. Williams registered nine multi-point games in 2014-15 and tied his career high with three assists on March 10 at Colorado. He has reached the 20-goal plateau four times in his career (2005-06, 2006-07, 2010-11, 2011-12), scored 30 goals in 2005-06 (31) and 2006-07 (33) and earned two points (one goal, one assist) in the 2007 NHL All-Star Game. Williams has registered 582 points (227 goals, 355 assists) in 918 career NHL games over 14 seasons with Philadelphia, Carolina and Los Angeles.

Williams is a three-time Stanley Cup champion (2006, 2012, 2014) and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs in 2014. He has earned an NHL record 14 points in seven career Game 7s and his seven Game 7 goals are tied for the NHL record (Glenn Anderson). In addition, Williams has never lost a Game 7 (7-0). In 115 career NHL playoff games, Williams has registered 78 points (30 goals, 48 assists). The Cobourg, Ontario, native has represented Canada at the World Championship three times (2002, 2004, 2007) and captured a gold medal in 2004 and 2007.