Capitals Re-sign Mathieu Perreault

ARLINGTON, Va. - The Washington Capitals have re-signed center Mathieu Perreault to a two-year extension, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.

Perreault, 24, set career highs in goals (16), assists (14), points (30), games played (64) and plus/minus (+9) in 2011-12. He finished first on Washington in shooting percentage (26.7%) and tied for fourth on the team with four game-winning goals. His 30 points ranked 10th on the team while he finished tied for fifth in goals and tied for fourth in plus/minus. Perreault tallied his first career NHL hat trick on Jan. 24 vs. Boston and made his NHL playoff debut against the Bruins, appearing in four postseason games with the Capitals in 2012.

The Drummondville, Quebec, native has collected 53 points (27 goals, 26 assists) and is a plus-10 in 120 career NHL games, all with Washington. Perreault was originally drafted by the Capitals in the sixth round (177th overall) in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He has played the second-most games and has registered the second-most points among the 2006 Capitals draft class, trailing only Nicklas Backstrom in each category, and is one of just four players in the league drafted in the fourth round or later in 2006 to have posted 50 or more career points.

The 5’10”, 185-pound center won back-to-back Calder Cup championships with Hershey of the American Hockey League in 2009 and 2010. Perreault was named to the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Second All-Star Teams in 2007-08, recording the most assists (80) and the most points (114) in the QMJHL that season. In 2006-07 Perreault was named to the CHL Second All-Star Team, the QMJHL First All-Star Team and was named the QMJHL’s most valuable player