Washington Capitals re-sign Lucas Johansen, add others
After extending a qualifying offer to Washington Capitals prospect defenseman Lucas Johansen, the team locked him in to a one year, two way contract. But that wasn’t all they did. Johansen will make $750,000 in the NHL and $95,000 in the AHL.
Before the return of Vitek Vanecek, the Caps added some minor leaguers to their thin prospect pool. They signed defenseman Matt Irwin to a one year, two way contract worth $750,000 in the NHL and $350,000 in the AHL. They also added defenseman Dylan MacIlrath to a two year, two way contract (2021-22: $750,000/$450,000) and goaltender Hunter Shapard to a two year, two way contract ($750,000/$90,000 both years).
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Johansen recorded two assists in five games with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL) last season. The 23 year old missed most of last season due to injury. The six foot one, 181 pound defenseman had two assists in nine games during the 2019-20 season. The Vancouver nativea additionally registers 14 points in 45 games with the Bears in 2018-19 with three goals and 11 assists.
Prior to joining the Bears, Johansen helped Kelowna win the WHL championship in 2015 while recording 98 points in 202 WHL games with 17 goals and 81 assists. He was drafted in the first round at 28th overall in the 2016 NHL Draft and is still waiting to see NHL action.
Irwin recorded two assists in 24 games with the Buffalo Sabres last season. The 33 year old defenseman ranked fourth among Sabres blueliners with 1:56 penalty kill minutes per game and 56 hits last season. Listed as six foot two and 189 pounds, Irwin has recorded 84 points with 22 goals and 62 assists in 383 career games between the Sabres, San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins, Nashville Predators, and Anaheim Ducks.
McIlrath recorded eight points with two goals and six assists in 29 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League last season. The 29 year old defenseman ranked third among Griffins blueliners in points while this 70 penalty minutes were tied for most among all AHL defensemen last season. The six foot four, 235 pound defenseman has played in 66 combined NHL games with the New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, and Detroit Red Wings, recording five points with three goals and two assists and 121 penalty minutes.
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Shapard appeared in three games with the Hershey Bears last season winning all three games with one shutout, a 1.00 goals against average and a .969 save percentage. The 25 year old also played in 21 games with the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL, earning a 12-6-2 record with one shutout, a 2.55 goals against average and a .922 save percentage.