The two defensive prospects were not signed by the June 1 deadline, meaning that Krebs can reenter the draft while Has will become a free agent.
The Washington Capitals have decided to renounce their rights to defensive prospects in Dru Krebs and Martin Has.
General manager Brian MacLellan did not sign Krebs and Has before 5 p.m. on Thursday, which was the unofficial start to the offseason and the "must sign by" date for drafted players. In turn, the Capitals have lost their signing rights to both.
In turn, Krebs will become eligible to go back into the NHL Draft, as he's still eligible to be selected at the age of 20 as a fourth-year junior player. If he is not drafted, he will lose his eligibility and become a free agent.
Krebs was a sixth-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. He had a tough post-draft season in 2021-22 with the last-place Medicine Hat Tigers, posting a plus-minus rating of minus-58 as the team managed just 11 wins.
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The Alberta native had a bounceback year in 2022-23 with Medicine Hat, posting eight goals and 33 assists for 41 points in 67 games. He is currently up with the Hershey Bears on an amateur tryout as a black ace for the team's Calder Cup Playoff run.
Has, a 2019 sixth-rounder, made the pro jump with the ECHL's South Carolina Stingrays this year following a breakout year in the QMJHL with the Shawinigan Cataractes. In his first pro-North American season, the 6-4, 187-pound blueliner dished three points and a plus-minus of plus-3.
The 22-year-old is no longer draft-eligible and will become a free agent.