Capitals Sign Goalie Mitch Gibson to 2-Year Contract

Gibson, a 2018 draft pick, gets a two-way deal during the Olympic break.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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The Washington Capitals have signed goaltender Mitch Gibson to a two-year, two-way contract. Gibson, a 2018 fourth-round draft pick, has been in the Capitals' organization but had not signed a multi-year deal until now. The Capitals plan to place Gibson on waivers with the intention of sending him to their AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears.

Why it matters

The signing of Gibson to a multi-year contract signals that the Capitals see him as part of their future plans. Gibson has been playing well in the ECHL and AHL this season, and the two-way deal puts him in position to potentially get his first NHL opportunity if injuries occur at the NHL level.

The details

Gibson was a fourth-round pick by the Capitals in 2018 but waited five years to sign with the organization. He played four strong seasons at Harvard before turning pro. Last season, he was the starting goalie for the Capitals' ECHL affiliate, the South Carolina Stingrays. This season, he has already made a career-high 12 AHL appearances for Hershey due to injuries to other goalies in the system. Gibson has a 91.8 save percentage and 2.48 goals against average for Hershey.

  • The Capitals announced the signing on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
  • Gibson was a fourth-round pick by the Capitals in the 2018 NHL Draft.

The players

Mitch Gibson

A goaltender who was a fourth-round draft pick of the Washington Capitals in 2018 and has been in their organization, but had not signed a multi-year contract until now.

Washington Capitals

The NHL team that drafted Mitch Gibson in 2018 and has now signed him to a two-year, two-way contract.

Hershey Bears

The American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Washington Capitals, where the team plans to assign Mitch Gibson after placing him on waivers.

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What’s next

The Capitals plan to place Mitch Gibson on waivers with the intention of assigning him to their AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears.

The takeaway

The Capitals' signing of Mitch Gibson to a two-year, two-way contract during the Olympic break shows the team's commitment to developing their 2018 draft pick and giving him an opportunity to potentially earn his first NHL call-up if injuries occur at the NHL level.