NAHL, Aston alum Bindulis signs NHL deal with Capitals
March 8, 2017
Former Aston Rebels defenseman Kristofers Bindulis was a member of the All-NAHL Team during the 2015-16 season and played in the 2014 Top Prospects Tournament.
The Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL) have signed Kris Bindulis to a three-year, entry-level contract, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today. Bindulis will report to the AHL’s Hershey Bears on a tryout agreement for the remainder of the 2016-17 season.
Bindulis, 21, recorded 12 points (1g, 11a) in 28 games with Lake Superior State University in the NCAA this season. The 6’3"/180 lbs. defenseman ranked third among Lake Superior State defensemen in points and assists and recorded two points (1g, 1a) in his NCAA debut on Oct. 14 against Michigan State.
Prior to his freshman year at Lake Superior State, Bindulis registered 46 points (10g, 36a) in 57 games with the NAHL’s Aston Rebels and served as the team’s home captain during the 2015-16 season. He was the East Division’s Most Valuable Player and Best Defenseman and voted to the 2015-16 All-NAHL team.
“I really enjoyed my time over there,” Bindulis said of attending Washington’s development camp this past summer. “It’s a really high-level in the NHL. Everything was really professional and coaches were really professional. I’m humbled and grateful for the incredible opportunity that they gave me to become a professional hockey player.”
Bindulis, who hails from Riga, Latvia, played a total of three NAHL seasons with the Rebels and prior to that, the Soo Eagles from (2013-15). In all, he appeared in 137 career NAHL games and recorded 63 points.
He played in the 2014 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament for the NAHL Selects Team.
