The Nashville Predators are bringing Lucas Johansen to their Training Camp on a professional tryout agreement this fall, per Tennessean reporter Alex Daugherty.
The former Washington Capitals first-round draft selection and two-time Calder Cup champion with the Hershey Bears was an unrestricted free agent after his deal with Washington expired in July.
Nashville is familiar with the Johansen family as Lucas’ older brother Ryan Johansen played eight seasons for the Predators from 2015-2023. Additionally, according to Lower Broad Hockey’s Emma Lingan, the younger Johansen has spent the last several summers training in Nashville with current Predators players.
The team’s general manager, Barry Trotz, and goaltending coach, Mitch Korn, were also with the Capitals when Washington selected Lucas in the 2016 NHL Draft and when he played his first season in the organization with Hershey (2017-18).
Johansen was the last player that got into games for the Capitals last season without a team after Max Pacioretty signed a PTO with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 26-year-old defender has struggled with injury issues throughout his pro career and is coming off a significant one that took him out of Hershey’s run to the 2024 Calder Cup.
The Vancouver native played a career-high six NHL games for the Capitals last year and made his playoff debut in the team’s first-round series against the Rangers. He recorded an assist in those six regular season games to go along with the 12 points (2g, 10a) he amassed for the Bears in 22 AHL regular season games.
Johansen will be one of 21 defensemen attending Nashville’s camp.
