After six years in the Washington Capitals’ system, defenseman Alexander Alexeyev is switching sides in one of the NHL’s most heated rivalries. The 25-year-old has signed a one-year deal worth $775,000 with the Pittsburgh Penguins, a move he calls both exciting and long overdue.
Alexander Alexeyev Joins Pittsburgh Penguins After Six Years with Capitals
At 6-foot-4 and 229 pounds, Alexeyev says the change gives him the “reset” he’s been waiting for.
“They told me they’ll trust me and give me ice time. That’s awesome,” he said. Pittsburgh wasted little time making its pitch once Washington told him in June that he wouldn’t be re-signed.
“I think it was heading in that direction from the start, no real shock. Early or mid-June they told me they wouldn’t extend my contract. I wasn’t surprised at all. Given how little I played, I’m actually glad it worked out this way,” he shared.
The St. Petersburg native had options elsewhere, but the Penguins impressed him most.
The Penguins have signed defenseman Alexander Alexeyev to a one-year contract.
Alexeyev is signed through the 2025.26 season and his contract carries an AAV of $775,000.
Details: https://t.co/ABEnPrftJ2 pic.twitter.com/S5MIBU5Tc7
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) July 2, 2025
Strong talks with management and a clear shot at earning a spot in the lineup sealed the decision. He says a return to the KHL was never considered.
Penguins Add Size and Depth on the Blue Line
The welcome wagon was quick to roll out. Within hours of signing, Alexeyev got a call from the general manager, texts from future teammates, and a warm hello from the coaching staff, including Todd Nelson, his former bench boss in Hershey.
He’s crossed paths with Penguins star Evgeni Malkin before, including during the 2020 NHL bubble, though the two haven’t connected since the move. Still, Alexeyev believes he’s stepping into a situation where he can play real, meaningful minutes.
His Capitals stint included 80 NHL games over four seasons, producing one goal and seven assists. Last year, he saw action in just eight regular-season games and 10 playoff contests. That limited role didn’t come as a surprise.
Alexeyev said he was told to expect a bigger role following a strong playoff showing the previous year, but Washington’s offseason signings pushed him down the depth chart again.
“It is what it is. I’m grateful to Washington and looking forward to next season in Pittsburgh,” he shrugged, adding that there’s no bad blood with his old team.
One of his roughest nights came in the 2025 playoffs against Montreal, when he lost six teeth with three completely gone, the others chipped or broken. He still finished the game, which went to overtime, before heading straight to the dentist for surgery until 3 a.m.
His departure from Washington wasn’t entirely smooth, as he was arrested in May after an alleged altercation while under the influence. Alexeyev downplayed the incident, calling it an administrative matter that the media blew out of proportion.
Now, his attention is firmly on the upcoming season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, a fresh opportunity with higher expectations and, potentially, the bigger role he’s been chasing.
