Zach Sanford Signs with Washington Capitals

Boston College has lost their seventh player to an early departure this summer with the announcement that rising sophomore forward Zach Sanford has signed a three-year entry level contract with the Washington Capitals.

Sanford was the third-leading scorer for the Capitals last season tallying 13-26-39 in 41 games. We ranked Sanford as the 14th-best NHL prospect in the NCAA last season:

Sanford followed up a strong freshman season where he was a decent secondary contributor for the Eagles with a sophomore season  where he became a key contributor for Boston College. He uses his 6'4" frame to work into tough areas of the ice and be a presence in front of the net, while still having the skating ability and puckhandling ability to make a skill play. Sanford could potentially be a second line wing at the NHL level and contribute on the power play.

Though Sanford had only played two years at Boston College, he would have potentially been eligible to become an NHL free agent next summer because he played a season for the Waterloo Blackhawks in the USHL after being drafted by the Capitals. The Capitals were rumored to offer Sanford some guaranteed time in the NHL next season as extra incentive to sign. Sanford's contract pays him $875,000/year at the NHL level.

Sanford joins fellow Eagles Miles Wood, Alex Tuch, Adam Gilmour, Ian McCoshen, Steve Santini and Thatcher Demko in signing NHL contracts early this summer.

Our full list of the top 100 NHL prospects in the NCAA last season, and which players have signed, is here.