Capitals sign Gabriel Carlsson

The Washington Capitals have signed defenseman Gabriel Carlsson to a one year, two way contract. He will make $750,000 in the NHL and $400,000 in the AHL.

The 25 year old recorded nine points with two goals and seven assists in 38 gams with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2021-22. The six foot five, 195 pound defenseman set single season career highs in goals, assists, points, and games played last season while leading Blue Jackets defensemen in plus minus with a +6.

Carlsson also appeared in two games with the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League, recording two assists. The Orebro, Sweden native has played parts of five seasons with Cleveland, appearing in an AHL career high 67 games with the Monsters in 2018-19. During that sweeason he recorded 12 points with two goals and 10 assists and added three assists in eight Calder Cup Playoff games.

Carlsson will likely be a depth defensemen as he’ll have some stiff competition ahead of him for that final pairing spot. He joins Matt Irwin and Erik Gustafsson as far as free agency pickups go.

He’ll likely compete with Lucas Johansen, Irwin and Gustafsson for that third pair role next to Trevor van Riemsdyk. He was selected 29th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets. That was the only team he played on his career up until this point.

Carlsson has a left handed shot, can win puck battles and play a shutdown game. But there are still some room for improvement as the 25 year old hasn’t quite reached his full potential yet.

Gustafsson signed a one year deal at the beginning of free agency as the Caps brought him on to take over for Justin Schultz who is now with the Seattle Kraken.

That blue line is now crowded and it’s going to be fun watching that competition unfold at training camp.