Lewington is #5 in black. (Photo: Marissa Baecker)

Wednesday night, the Washington Capitals announced the signing of Tyler Lewington to an entry-level contract, which will kick in during the 2015-16 season.

Lewington first came to prominence when he dominated several strength categories at the 2013 NHL Draft Combine. Despite that, he fell to the seventh round of the draft, where the Caps snagged him 204th overall.

Lewington, who captains Medicine Hat in his overage year, was eligible to play for the Hershey Bears this season. Instead he was returned to the Tigers after a strong showing in the NHL pre-season where he showed great maturity and received great reviews from Caps’ head coach Barry Trotz and Bears’ bench boss Troy Mann.

Despite an average build (6-foot-1, 197 pounds), 20-year-old has great strength and physical ability. Though he doesn’t hesitate to throw his body around, he’s a pretty good skater and is smart and mobile enough to keep up with the forwards without taking penalties. Even though he takes care of his own end first and foremost, he is just two points away from tying his WHL career best in points this season.

Lewington is eligible to join the Hershey Bears on a PTO after his junior season is over, though that may not come anytime soon: the Tigers are currently third in WHL’s Eastern conference and may go deep in the postseason.

More from the Capitals: