The Washington Capitals have acquired forward Justin Sourdif from the Florida Panthers in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick. The trade, announced by Capitals Senior Vice President and General Manager Chris Patrick on Thursday, adds a promising young player to Washington's roster as they begin their offseason roster adjustments.
Sourdif, 23, is a restricted free agent and is coming off his three-year entry-level contract with the Panthers. The Richmond, British Columbia native spent the 2024-25 season with the Charlotte Checkers, Florida's AHL affiliate, where he recorded 34 points (16 goals, 18 assists) in 43 regular-season games. He also contributed 10 points (4 goals, 6 assists) in 18 playoff games as the Checkers advanced to the Calder Cup Final, ultimately losing to the Abbotsford Canucks in six games.
The 5'11", 181-pound forward ranked fifth on Charlotte in goals and sixth in points this past season, despite playing only 43 games. His 0.79 points-per-game rate was the second-highest on the team among players who appeared in at least 20 games. Sourdif also tied for second on the Checkers in game-winning goals (4) and tied for third in power-play assists (8) and penalty minutes (58). During Charlotte's Calder Cup Finals run, he ranked third on the team in scoring with 10 points and tied for the team lead in game-winning goals (2).
Originally drafted by the Panthers in the third round (87th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft, Sourdif has appeared in four NHL games, including one this past season where he scored his first NHL goal on February 25 against Nashville. In 149 career AHL games with Charlotte, Sourdif has accumulated 96 points (35 goals, 61 assists).
Prior to turning pro, Sourdif played five seasons in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Vancouver Giants and Edmonton Oil Kings, amassing 205 points (86 goals, 119 assists) in 199 games. He also won a silver medal with Canada at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he recorded five points (1 goal, 4 assists) in five games.
The acquisition of Sourdif provides the Capitals with a versatile forward who has shown scoring potential in the AHL and has already gained some NHL experience. With the need for waivers to be sent back to the AHL next season, he will have the opportunity to compete for a spot on the Capitals' NHL roster. For the Panthers, this trade allows them to acquire valuable draft picks as they navigate the offseason and attempt to retain key free agents.
