Capitals Sign Former Vernon Vipers Strachan & Watkins:

The Washington Capitals have signed former Vernon Vipers defenceman Tyson
Strachan & former Vernon Vipers forward Matt Watkins.  Strachan & Watkins now join two other former Vernon Vipers in the Capitals organization, (Aaron Volpatti & Chay Genoway).   

Tyson Strachan split last season between the American
Hockey League (AHL) San Antonio Rampage and the Florida Panthers.  In 24 games with the Rampage Strachan collected (1-8-9) and in 38 games with the Panthers Strachan picked up (0-4-4).  Strachan was drafted by Carolina in the 5th Round (137th overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.  Strachan signed as a free agent with the Florida Panthers in July 2011 after playing the previous four seasons with the AHL Peoria Rivermen & the St. Louis Blues. Strachan played just one season in Vernon (2002-03) collecting (6-22-28) in 56 regular season games with the Vipers, before playing four years at Ohio State University.

Tyson Strachan's Player Profile:

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=72630

The New York Islanders signed Matt Watkins back on July, 3rd 2012 to a one-year, two way contract.  Watkins would never play with the Islanders starting and finishing the 2012-13 season with the Islanders farm club the American Hockey League (AHL) Bridgeport Sound Tigers playing in 68 games collecting (11-19-30).  The Islanders would eventually place Watkins on waivers on September 14th 2012.  Watkins was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the 5th Round 160th overall in 2005 but never played with the Stars, before signing an entry-level contract with the Pheonix Coyotes in 2009 as a free agent.   Watkins played just one game with the Coyotes during the 2011-12 season while playing with the Coyotes farm club the AHL Portland Pirates.  In 70 games with Portland Watkins collected (11-25-36).  Watkins played one season in Vernon (2004-05) collecting (36-38-74) in 60 regular season games with the Vipers.

Matt Watkins Player Profile:

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=74941

This is posted on the Capitals website:

Capitals Sign Tyson Strachan, Matt Watkins and David Leggio

Monday, 07.08.2013

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have signed defenseman Tyson Strachan, right wing Matt Watkins and goaltender David Leggio to one-year, two-way contracts, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.

Strachan, 28, played in 38 games with the Florida Panthers last season, compiling four assists and 40 penalty minutes. He ranked third on the Panthers in penalty minutes and also recorded nine points (one goal, eight assists) and 22 penalty minutes in 24 games with San Antonio of the American Hockey League (AHL).

The 6’3”, 225-pound blueliner has recorded 13 points (one goal, 12 assists) and 127 penalty minutes in 120 career NHL games with Florida and St. Louis. Strachan has collected 68 points (12 goals, 56 assists) and 270 penalty minutes in 216 AHL games with San Antonio, Peoria and Albany. The Melfort, Saskatchewan, native spent four seasons at The Ohio State University and was originally drafted by Carolina in the fifth round (137th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Watkins, 26, registered 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) and 43 penalty minutes in 68 games with Bridgeport of the AHL in 2012-13. The 5’11”, 180-pound forward ranked fifth on the team in points and served as the Sound Tigers’ captain during the 2012-13 campaign.

The native of Aylesbury, Saskatchewan, has compiled 123 points (49 goals, 74 assists) and 153 penalty minutes in 253 career AHL games with Bridgeport, Portland and San Antonio and has appeared in one NHL game with the Phoenix Coyotes. The former University of North Dakota forward was originally drafted in the fifth round (160th overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

Leggio, 28, compiled a 38-24-1 record with a 2.56 goals-against average, a .924 save percentage and four shutouts in 64 games last season with Rochester (AHL). He led the league in wins and games played in 2012-13, ranked tied for fourth in the AHL in save percentage and19th in goals-against average last season. Leggio set career-best marks last season in games played, wins, goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts.

The 6’0”, 185-pound goaltender owns an 88-62-3 record with a 2.67 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage in 156 career AHL games with Rochester, Portland, Albany and Binghamton. The Buffalo native helped TPS win the SM-liiga championship in Finland during the 2009-10 season and in 2006-07, he led the Clarkson University Golden Knights to an ECAC championship where he was named team MVP, ECAC Goaltender of the Year and was on the ECAC’s First All-Star Team. Leggio was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by Buffalo in August 2010.