Caps Sign Keith Aucoin; Laich Update

The Caps have signed free agent forward Keith Aucoin to a two-year contract. The 29-year-old split last season between Carolina and Albany (AHL), playing 38 games for both teams.

More on this later.

In other news that could be related to this move, I heard from a source late last night that Brooks Laich, a 25-year-old restricted free agent, and the Caps remain far apart on a new contract. I was also told that Laich has been fielding offers from other teams who are interested in possibly signing him to an offer sheet. When I asked if Laich was close to signing a sheet, I was told by the source, "You're barking up the right tree."

This is certainly a situation that bears watching today.

I'm en route to downtown for a lunch meeting, but will be sure to update if I hear anything more about this.

Update:Aucoin's deal is for $475,000 (two-way) this season and $500,000 (one-way) next season. Both figures are league minimums, by the way.