ARLINGTON, Va. - The Washington Capitals have signed center Ryan Stoa to a one-year contract, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today. In keeping with club policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Stoa, 25, collected 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists) and 65 penalty minutes in 75 games with Lake Erie of the American Hockey League (AHL) last season. He finished the season ranked tied for third on the team in points and goals and sixth in assists.

The 6’3”, 200-pound center tallied NHL career highs in games played (25), goals (2; tied), assists (2) and points (4) during the 2010-11 season with the Colorado Avalanche. He has recorded seven points (four goals, three assists) and 20 penalty minutes in 37 career NHL games with Colorado. In 177 career AHL games, Stoa has compiled 109 points (55 goals, 54 assists) and 162 penalty minutes.

The Bloomington, Minnesota, native was originally drafted by Colorado in the second round (34th overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He spent four seasons at the University of Minnesota (2005-09) where he was named a WCHA First Team All-Star in 2009 and helped Minnesota win the WCHA tournament in 2007. Stoa helped the United States win a bronze medal at the 2007 U-20 World Junior Championships and won a gold medal with the Americans in the 2005 U-18 World Junior Championships.