Sonny Milano, cut by Calgary in training camp, signs three-year extension with Capitals

As the line goes, one team’s trash is another’s treasure.

The Washington Capitals announced Saturday they have signed forward Sonny Milano to a three-year contract extension worth $1.9 million per season. Milano, 26, has eight goals and 22 points in 40 games with the Capitals in 2022–23.

Milano attended the Calgary Flames’ 2022 training camp on a professional tryout opportunity and failed to impress head coach Darryl Sutter, being held off the scoresheet and taking six shots in four exhibition games.

After being cut loose by the Flames, Milano signed a one-year, $750,000 contract with the Capitals. He ranks third on the team with eight five-on-five goals this season and is on track to set new career-best marks in every offensive category.

The Columbus Blue Jackets originally selected Milano in the first round (No. 16 overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft. He spent parts of five seasons with the Blue Jackets to begin his NHL career before being traded to the Anaheim Ducks for Devin Shore on Feb. 24, 2020.

Milano established himself as a regular presence in the Ducks’ top six in 2021–22 and developed significant chemistry with young star forward Trevor Zegras, finishing the year with 14 goals and 34 points in 66 games. The Ducks elected not to qualify Milano as a restricted free agent, sending him to the open market.

Through 237 career games with the Blue Jackets, Ducks, and Capitals over parts of eight NHL regular seasons, Milano has racked up 44 goals and 103 points. Now, he’s under contract with the Capitals through 2026 — and the Flames’ search for a top-nine winger wears on with the trade deadline less than a month away.