The Washington Capitals have tinkered with their roster since the start of free agency and it has been a frenzy. But as far as players they re-signed, General Manger Brian MacLellan picked two. The first was Matt Irwin. The second was Marcus Johansson who agreed to a one year, $1.1 million contract extension.
The 31 year old recorded 29 points with nine goals and 20 assists in 69 games with the Caps and the Seattle Kraken last season. He was drafted by the Capitals in the first round at 24th overall in the 2009 NHL Draft, then after going on an odyssey tour around the NHL got reacquired from Seattle for forward Daniel Sprong, a 2022 fourth rounder, and a 2023 sixth rounder back on the trade deadline of March 21.
The six foot one, 203 pound forward played seven seasons with the Caps from 2010-2017, compiling 290 points in 501 games with 102 goals and 188 assists. He is one of 30 players in franchise history to play 500 games for the Capitals.
In 753 career games with Washington, the New Jersey Devils, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild, and Seattle, Johansson recorded 407 points with 144 goals and 263 assists.
Johansson also had 43 points in 103 career playoff games with 14 goals and 29 assists, including four game winning goals and an overtime winning, series clinching goal as a member of the Capitals on April 23, 2017 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Landeskrona, Sweden native has represent Sweden in the Olympics in 2014 and the World Junior Championships in 2009 and 2010. He won a silver medal with Sweden at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, won a bronze medal and several as captain for Sweden at the 2010 World Junior Championship and captured a silver medal with Sweden at the 2009 World Junior Championship.
A lot of Caps fans were angry with this move but Caps Twitter’s mood would change about 24 hours later on the thing I’m going to talk about next. But I don’t hate the Johansson extension. Why not have him on board. He’s a veteran yes but he could help the young guys.
Or this could be a sign and trade. We have a lot to dissect tonight as far as their next move, the salary cap and line projections so stay tuned!