The hockey journey for Sonny Milano took a bit of time. It was a matter of finding the right situation for him and his game. The 28-year-old was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets back in the first round (16th overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. He spent a good portion of his career going back and forth between the NHL and the AHL. Then, he came to the Washington Capitals. For Milano, it appears that this is the right team for him, and he has seized the opportunity presented. If things continue to go well, he very well could be in D.C. for the rest of his career.
Time with Columbus, Anaheim, and Calgary
Milano made his NHL debut for the Blue Jackets during the 2015-16 NHL season. He suited up in three games for the club and was able to grab an assist in that span. He mainly spent time down in the AHL with Columbus’ affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters, for that year. In 54 games for the Monsters, Milano tallied 14 goals and 17 assists for 31 points. As a couple seasons came and went, he was up with the Blue Jackets more often than in Cleveland. The 2017-18 campaign saw Milano notch 14 goals and eight assists for 22 points in 55 games. It was a start, but he still found himself spending some time in the AHL during the 2018-19 season.
Anaheim Ducks left wing Sonny Milano (12) in the first period during an NHL hockey game against the Arizona Coyotes, Friday, April 1, 2022, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
The Blue Jackets decided during 2019-20 that it was time to move on from Milano. He spent the entirety of the campaign in Columbus, where he collected five goals and 13 assists for 18 points in 46 games. However, he was traded midway through the season to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Devin Shore. He played in nine games for the Ducks and netted two goals and provided three assists for five points in that span. His best season in Anaheim happened in 2021-22, when he got 14 goals and 20 assists for 34 points in 66 games. He left Anaheim and went into the 2022 offseason as a free agent and signed a professional tryout with the Calgary Flames. However, he would not sign a contract with the Flames and was cut from his tryout by the club.
Making His Mark in Washington
Former Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan has earned respect around the hockey world because he knew what complementary players were missing when he took the job after George McPhee was let go. The Capitals had the core players to work with in Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, John Carlson, and Braden Holtby; but he needed to add more into the mix of the lineup to get the team over the hump. He did exactly that by adding talents like TJ Oshie and Lars Eller; and the club won their first Stanley Cup in 2018. MacLellan continued to bring in superb players to place around the core by adding in guys like Dylan Strome, Rasmus Sandin, and Milano.
MacLellan brought Milano aboard to the Capitals by signing him to a one-year contract, and the opportunity worked out nicely for both sides. In his first campaign as a Capital, he produced 11 goals and 22 assists for 33 points. He also spent a brief period in the AHL with the Hershey Bears, but that lasted a total of five games, and he has not been back there since.
Milano’s 33 points in 2022-23 had him finish seventh on the roster in points. Only Ovechkin (75 points), Strome (65), Evgeny Kuznetsov (55), Erik Gustafsson (38), Conor Sheary (37), and Oshie (35); had more than he did. Milano might not have been one of the leading scorers on the team, but with the amount of talent around him, he did not have to be. He and his style of play have fit in perfectly. He has found his role as a skilled complementary piece in the Capitals’ offense. MacLellan liked what he saw of Milano that he re-signed him on a three-year deal. He missed a significant number of games during 2023-24, but the 49 regular season games he did play in, he collected 15 goals and eight assists.
Washington Capitals left wing Sonny Milano, center, looks on at an NHL hockey team picture session, Tuesday, April 4, 2023 in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Looking at this Capitals team heading into 2024-25 , I am curious where Milano will slot in on the roster and how many points he gets. Head coach Spencer Carbery and his staff will have to see in training camp and preseason where he fits best. The Capitals added quite a bit of new players that will need time to gel with the returning cast. Specifically on offense, new Capitals like Pierre-Luc Dubois and Andrew Mangiapane will be vying for prominent roles, and how well they do and how many minutes they get will impact others, like possibly Milano.
I do expect another solid season of production for Milano though. If he continues to post the stats he has the last few campaigns, I think new GM Chris Patrick will want to sign him up for another few seasons at the minimum.
