Per Bob McKenzie, the Caps may have found at least one option for their 7D by looking - where else? - at former Penguins' blueliners, signing Taylor Chorney to a one-year, one-way contract worth $700,000.
Chorney spent most of last season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL, appearing in 62 games for the Baby Pens and picking up four goals and 15 assists.
Team release:
ARLINGTON, VA. - The Washington Capitals have signed defenseman Taylor Chorney to a one-year, $700,000 contract, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.
Chorney, 28, has registered seven points (one goal, six assists) and 16 penalty minutes in 68 career NHL games with Edmonton, St. Louis and Pittsburgh. The 6'1", 189-pound defenseman appeared in seven regular-season games with the Penguins in 2014-15 and made his NHL playoff debut in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the NY Rangers. Chorney was selected by Edmonton in the second round, 36th overall, in the 2005 NHL Draft. His father, Marc, played in 210 NHL games with Pittsburgh and Los Angeles from 1980-84 and appeared in 48 games with Washington's AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Whalers, during the 1984-85 season.
Chorney earned 19 points (four goals, 15 assists) and 42 penalty minutes in 62 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL) last season and served as the team's alternate captain. In 2013-14, Chorney served as captain of the Chicago Wolves (AHL) and set career highs in points (25) and assists (20). He has recorded 142 points (31 goals, 111 assists) and 203 penalty minutes in 400 career AHL games with Springfield, Oklahoma City, Peoria, Chicago and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Chorney played three seasons at the University of North Dakota (2005-08) and reached the Frozen Four in all three seasons with Fighting Sioux. In 2007-08, Chorney earned First-Team All-American honors. Chorney represented the United States at 2010 World Championship and the 2006 World Junior Championship and captured a gold medal at the 2005 World Under-18 Championship and a bronze medal at the 2007 World Junior Championship.