The Washington Capitals are bringing in at least one reinforcement ahead of the NHL’s 3 p.m. trade deadline Monday — and it’s a familiar face.
The Capitals on Monday morning traded for Seattle Kraken forward Marcus Johansson, the team announced. Johansson was drafted in the first round by the Capitals in 2009, playing seven seasons in D.C. from 2010-2017.
The Capitals sent winger Daniel Sprong, a 2022 fourth-round pick and a 2023 sixth-rounder to Seattle to acquire Johansson. Sprong, in his second year with Washington, has eight goals and six assists in 47 games this season. Seattle is retaining 50% of Johansson’s contract.
Johansson is expected to give the team flexibility, as the 31-year-old can play all three forward positions. He may also slot in on the team’s second power-play unit — a group that struggled to open the season but has improved markedly in recent weeks.
Johansson’s best season came in 2016-17 when he tallied 58 points in 82 games with the Capitals.
But Washington then traded him to New Jersey for multiple draft picks in a move to save money. Since the trade, Johansson has bounced around, playing for the New Jersey Devils, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild and Kraken.
This season, Johansson has scored six goals and dished out 17 assists in 51 games for the struggling Kraken. He’s averaging 16:35 of ice time per game and is on pace for 31 points, which would be his highest single-season total since 2016-17.
• Jacob Calvin Meyer can be reached at jmeyer@washingtontimes.com.
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