Healthy Canmore forward signs with NHL's Washington Capitals

CANMORE – Luke Philp is ready for new opportunities in the Washington Capitals organization.

The 28-year-old centre from Canmore inked a one-year, two-way contract with the Caps earlier this month worth $775,000 at the NHL level and $375,000 at the American Hockey League (AHL) level following a “frustrating” season, where Philp was mostly sidelined with a heinous Achilles injury.

Now recovered, the point-getter said he’s ready to show he belongs on the ice with the likes of Russian sniper Alex Ovechkin.

“I think it’s important as a player to stay true to your game and trust that your ability and the way you play got you to where you’re at,” said Philp. “I’m 28 years old now, so obviously I’m looking to prove myself and get more NHL games.”

NEWS | The Capitals have signed forward Luke Philp to a one-year, two-way contract and forward Spencer Smallman to a one-year, two-way contract. https://t.co/dzkeoxdM85

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) July 2, 2024

Philp will likely report to the Capitals AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears; however, the five-foot-11 righty appeared in three NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2022-23 season, where he had one assist.

With a nose for the net, Philp was coming off his best season with the Rockford IceHogs in 2022-2023 and likely would have been a candidate for more call-ups with the rebuilding Blackhawks, but he was out eight months following surgery last August.

Philp tore his right Achilles while working out last offseason, which is a common injury among hockey players that has a lengthy recovery time of six or more months.

When Philp returned to the IceHogs last March, he scored two goals and six points in 15 games and had a plus-3 rating after missing 57 games.

“It’s by far the worst injury I’ve ever had and by far the most difficult one for getting back to playing,” he said. 

“I was feeling really good and excited to go back and kind of prove myself and hopefully try and get more time in the NHL, but that injury, unfortunately, prevented that. So in a short stretch there, at the end of the year, it seemed like I just started playing and then it was over.”

When the 2024 free agency period began, the 2017-18 Stanley Cup champions reached out to Philp’s agent. A deal was done on July 2.

Garrett Mitchell, Philp’s former IceHogs teammate and friend who’s currently a colour commentator for the Bears TV broadcasts, said one of the biggest assets that the Caps liked about his game is that Philp is a tireless grinder.

“His name came up at one point in a conversation and I love Philper as a player,” said Mitchell to the Outlook. “You can teach skill and you can teach a lot of different things, but it’s pretty tough to teach a guy that they have to work hard.

“He works every single night and you know exactly what you’re going to get from him and obviously it’s an added bonus that he’s going to help you on the scoresheet as well.”

As long-time captain Ovechkin and his 852 career goals narrow in on Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record – 42 goals behind – the Capitals are bringing in younger talent to its roster.

“I loved playing in the Chicago system … but sometimes it’s they’re ready to move on or you’re ready to move on, or it’s a combination. It’s just the way sometimes free agency goes,” said Philp, who was awarded the IceHogs MVP trophy in 2022-23.

Like the rebuilding Blackhawks, Philp sees similar opportunities with the Caps. He’s aiming to have a good training camp and impress the new faces and decision-makers in Washington.

“My goals for this year kind of remain the same,” said Philp. “I kind of have to prove myself and prove that I can play at the NHL level and hopefully get some more games in, but I think right now my goal is just to focus on showing up ready to camp and having a good camp.”

Mitchell thinks Philp has the ability to crack the Caps roster, noting the Canmore forward can “work his way into any line-up.”

“He’s got that ability to come in and have a great camp and it’s a fresh start for him,” said Mitchell. “In my opinion, he would have been a guy, after the [2022-23] season he had with me, he would have been a guy [the Blackhawks] looked toward to fill in and play in Chicago last year [had he not gotten injured].”

In 223 AHL games between the IceHogs and Stockton Heat (now Calgary Wranglers), Philp has scored 79 goals and 151 points and has a plus-45 rating.

In related news, Philp's younger brother, Noah, signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Edmonton Oilers for the upcoming season.