The Washington Capitals signed two free agaent defencemen on Wednesday, getting Ivan Majesky and Mathieu Biron to join the re-building franchise.
Terms were not disclosed for each player but Majesky will earn $800,000 for the 2005-06 season.
The well-travelled Biron was recently bought out of his contract by the Florida Panthers.
Biron, 25, was selected 21st overall (first round) by Los Angeles in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. He was traded to the Islanders on June 20, 1999, and subsequently moved to Tampa Bay and then Florida.
The 6-foot-6, 220-pound native of Lac-St-Charles, Que., recorded three goals, 10 assists (13 points) and 51 penalty minutes in 57 games with Florida in 2003-04.
He debuted in the NHL with the Islanders in 1999-2000, playing a full NHL season as a 19-year-old. In five NHL seasons Biron has totaled eight goals, 23 assists (31 points) and 127 penalty minutes in 201 games.
Majesky, 28, was selected 267th overall (ninth round) by Florida in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. He was traded to the Thrashers in exchange for a second-round Entry Draft pick on June 21, 2003.
The 6-foot-5, 230-pound native of Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, recorded three goals, seven assists (10 points) and 76 penalty minutes in 82 games with the Thrashers in 2003-04.
In two NHL seasons Majesky has totaled seven goals, 15 assists (22 points) and 168 penalty minutes in 145 games. Two of his goals have been game-winners. He appeared in all 82 games with Florida as an NHL rookie in 2002-03 while averaging nearly 21 minutes of ice time per contest.