The Capitals were so impressed by Alex Alexeyev’s play in training camp that they have signed the 18-year-old defenseman to a three-year entry-level contract. The 2018 first-round pick signed the deal in Red Deer, Alberta, home of his junior team.

Alexeyev announced the news in an Instagram post.

“I am so honored and happy to signed my first NHL contract with great organization @capitals proud to be part of it,” Alexeyev wrote. “I wanna say thank you to everyone who helped me to get to this point, my friends, my teammates, coaches, trainers, my agency, and especially my family.”

Wednesday, Alexeyev was cut and sent back to the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels, but he looked good in every game he played, including three games during the Rookie Showcase in Florida.

Alexeyev impressed head coach Todd Reirden who said the defenseman “continues to show his ability to play the game at a number of different ways,” including “executing passes that normally guys that age and that size don’t do as defensemen.”

Alexeyev was dominant in the rookie tournament before training camp. His highlights included a fight, a slick shootout goal, and a nifty assist to Maximillian Kammerer. He finished with four assists, the highest of any player.

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