The Washington Capitals have made their first signing of the 2026 offseason.
The team announced that they have signed Swedish forward Theodor Niederbach to a one-year, two-way contract. The 24-year-old forward will earn $1.025 million in the NHL and $85k in the minors.
Niederbach, a 2020 second-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings, has spent his entire pro career in either the SHL or HockeyAllsvenskan in Sweden. This past season, he recorded 32 points (13g, 19a) in 52 games for Frolunda HC. During the 2024-25 campaign, he set a career high of 33 points (10g, 23a) in 51 games for MoDo Hockey, where he was teammates with Capitals prospect Milton Gastrin.
The 5-foot-11-inch, 172-pound centerman has registered 100 career points (42g, 58a) in 238 total SHL games with Frolunda, MoDo, and Rogle BK. He was never signed to an entry-level contract by the Red Wings. The Capitals have likely inked him to a deal to help bolster the Hershey Bears for next season.
Niederbach represented Sweden at the World Junior Championship twice, earning a bronze medal in 2022. He recorded six points (3g, 3a) in 12 games across the two tournaments.
Here’s the full press release from the Capitals:
Capitals Sign Forward Theodor Niederbach
Niederbach, a 2020 second-round draft pick, recorded 100 points across six seasons in the Swedish Hockey League
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have signed forward Theodor Niederbach to a one-year, two-way contract ($1.025 million/$85,000), senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick announced today.
Niederbach, 24, scored a career-high 13 goals in 52 regular-season games with Frölunda HC of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) in 2025-26. The 6’0”, 196-pound forward ranked fourth on Frölunda in assists (19), fifth in goals and sixth in points (32). Niederbach added two points (1g, 1a) in six SHL playoff games. In addition, he collected two assists in 12 Champions Hockey League contests, helping Frölunda win the tournament championship.
During the 2024-25 season, Niederbach recorded SHL single-season career-highs in points (33) and assists (19) in 51 games with MoDo.
Niederbach has registered 100 points (42g, 58a) in 238 career SHL games with Frölunda, MoDo and Rögle BK.
The Bjästa, Sweden native represented Sweden at the 2021 and 2022 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships, earning a bronze medal in 2022. Niederbach recorded six points (3g, 3a) across 12 total tournament games.
Niederbach was originally drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round (51st overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft.
