Capitals sign Potulny, Ford

The Washington Capitals, parent club of the AHL’s Hershey Bears, have signed center Ryan Potulny and right wing Matthew Ford for the upcoming 2011-12 season.

Potulny, 26, comes to the Capitals organization after helping lead the Binghamton Senators to the 2011 Calder Cup championship. He scored 14 goals and assisted on 12 others in 23 Calder Cup playoff games this past spring, leading the AHL in playoff scoring. Potulny’s Game 7 overtime goal gave the Senators a first-round series victory over Manchester.

In 71 regular-season games between Binghamton and Rockford last season, Potulny tallied 21 goals and 28 assists for 49 points.

In 243 career AHL games with Binghamton, Rockford, Springfield and Philadelphia, Potulny has totaled 95 goals and 97 assists for 192 points. He also has 123 games of NHL experience with Philadelphia, Edmonton, Chicago and Ottawa Senators, registering 22 goals and 27 assists.

Ford, 26, tallied a career-high 26 goals for Lake Erie (AHL) this past season (26-16-42). In three pro seasons, Ford has appeared in 151 AHL games with Lake Erie and Hartford, compiling 40 goals and 32 assists.

A native of West Hills, Calif., Ford was originally drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2004.