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Capitals sign Finnish forward Henrik Borgstrom to one-year, two-way deal

By Ian Oland

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July 13, 2022 5:40 pm

The Washington Capitals signed depth center Henrik Borgstrom late in the afternoon of free agency day, Wednesday.

Borgstrom, 24, inked a one-year, two-way deal that will pay him league minimum at the NHL level and $400k in Hershey.

Notably, Borgstrom is a Finnish (!!!). If he dresses for the Caps this upcoming season, he will be the first player from Finland to do so since Sami Lepisto and Oskar Osala got into a handful of games during the 2008-09 campaign.

Borgstrom scored seven points (4g, 3a) in 52 games last season for the Chicago Blackhawks, but was available on the market after being bought out alongside former Capitals winger Brett Connolly earlier this week.

The 2021-22 season was Borgstrom’s first in the NHL since playing just four games for the Florida Panthers during the 2019-20 campaign.

During the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season, Borgstrom played for HIFK of the Finnish Liiga and had 21 points (11g, 10a) in 30 games.

Borgstrom was originally drafted by the Panthers in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2016 Draft.

7/14 update: The Capitals officially announced the signing. Here is the full press release.

Capitals Sign Henrik Borgstrom

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have signed forward Henrik Borgstrom to a one-year, two-way contract ($750,000/$400,000), senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.

Borgstrom, 24, recorded seven points (4g, 3a) in 52 games with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2021-22. The 6’3”, 199-pound forward set a single-season career high in games played and penalty minutes (22).

Borgstrom spent the 2020-21 season with HIFK of Liiga in Finland, recording 21 points (11g, 10a) in 30 games. The Helsinki, Finland native added five points (2g, 3a) in eight playoff games.

Borgstrom was selected by the Florida Panthers in the first round, 23rd overall, in the 2016 NHL Draft. Borgstrom recorded a career-high 18 points (8g, 10a) in 50 games with Florida during the 2018-19 season, while also registering 22 points (5g, 17a) in 24 games with the Springfield Thunderbirds of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Borgstrom has recorded 26 points (13g, 13a) in 110 career NHL games with Florida and Chicago. In 73 AHL games with Springfield, Borgstrom has recorded 45 points (16g, 29a).

Borgstrom attended the University of Denver, where he recorded 95 points (45g, 50a) in 77 games over two seasons. During the 2017-18 season, Borgstrom led the NCHC in scoring and helped Denver capture the NCAA Championship. Borgstrom was named NCHC Forward of the Year, NCHC Player of the Year, was selected to the NCHC First All-Star Team and the NCAA (West) First All-American Team and was a Hobey Baker Award finalist.

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