The Washington Capitals have made another move before the NHL’s March 3 trade deadline.
Marcus Johansson has been dealt to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for a 2024 third-round draft pick. ESPN’s Kevin Weekes was the first to report the news.
By Chris Cerullo 3 weeks ago
The Washington Capitals and New York Rangers are set to square off in a Saturday matinee matchup and there will be a new face in the Caps’ lineup.
Craig Smith, part of the return from the Boston Bruins in the trade that sent Dmitry Orlov and Garnet Hathaway up north, will make his Capitals debut as the team looks to avoid seven losses in a row. Head coach Peter Laviolette said Friday that the plan is for Smith to line up on the right wing.
By Chris Cerullo 4 weeks ago
The Washington Capitals took the ice at NC State’s Carter-Finley Stadium on Friday night for their outdoor practice before they’re slated to play the Carolina Hurricanes on the same rink on Saturday.
Present at the skate for the Caps were three forwards that may be injury doubts for the actual game. Tom Wilson, Nic Dowd, and Marcus Johansson all donned practice sweaters and got in regular drill work with the rest of their teammates.
By Chris Cerullo 1 month ago
Marcus Johansson will be continuing his second stint in DC. Johansson signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract late on free agency day to keep him with the organization that originally drafted him in 2009.
The move gives the Capitals versatility as the Swede can skate at all three forward positions. Washington will be without Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson to start the season due to long-term injuries.
By Ian Oland 8 months ago
If you had to pick one Capitals player that was the biggest difference-maker on Saturday, Anthony Mantha would arguably be that guy. Known in these parts as Millie’s Dad, the big French Canadian forward played tenacious, fast, and with an edge. Kinda how I imagine Millie Mantha is like when she’s super hungry and getting frustrated that you’re ignoring her barks.
“Our last game pissed us off a little bit,” Marcus Johansson said of the Caps’ 5-1 loss in Game Two.
Those qualities combined to give Mantha one of his most dominant performances since being acquired from the Detroit Red Wings for Jakub Vrana in 2021.
The Washington Capitals acquired Marcus Johansson from the Seattle Kraken for Daniel Sprong, a 2022 fourth-round pick, and a 2023 sixth-round pick at the Trade Deadline. The move was advertised as one that would give the Capitals more depth heading into the playoffs, solidify the top three lines, and make the team stouter defensively.
But the early returns — keyword: early — are not great. In fact, they’re kinda bad. Through five games with the Capitals, Johansson has not recorded a point despite playing a majority of his time five-on-five with Alex Ovechkin (40:06) and Evgeny Kuznetsov (36:01) on the first line.
Laviolette was asked about what he thought of Johansson’s contributions so far after Capitals practice on Monday.
The Washington Capitals acquired former Capital Marcus Johansson from the Seattle Kraken for Daniel Sprong and two draft picks on Trade Deadline day.
But apparently, there was one person who had advanced knowledge of the deal, even before hockey insider Chris Johnston: Nicklas Backstrom.
“Yeah, I talked to [Marcus],” Backstrom said after the team’s optional skate on Monday. “It was just texting. He said ‘I’m back, but it’s not official.'”
Backstrom and the press laughed.
“Now it’s official!” Backstrom astutely pointed out.
On Monday, the Washington Capitals traded to acquire forward Marcus Johansson from the Seattle Kraken. Johansson, 31, is a professional Swedish hockey player who has played for 12 seasons. A little-known fact: Many of those seasons were played right here in Washington for the Capitals.
If you are one of the people for whom that fact is news, here’s a brief explainer on who exactly Marcus Johansson is.
By Peter Hassett 1 year ago
The Washington Capitals took the ice Tuesday for their morning skate before their home game against the St. Louis Blues. The team made two trade deadline moves on Monday and The Athletic’s Tarik El-Bashir reports that one of those additions, Marcus Johansson, will immediately get a top-six role.
Johansson, pronounced YO-hansson again now, will start his second spell with the Caps playing on the first line with Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov.
By Chris Cerullo 1 year ago
The Washington Capitals have added to their forward depth for the stretch run approximately four hours before the NHL’s March 21 trade deadline. Marcus Johansson will be making his way back to DC as Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan has acquired the Swedish forward back from the Seattle Kraken.
TSN’s Chris Johnston was first to report the trade interest this morning and the first on the official confirmation.
The Washington Post’s Samantha Pell had the details on the return for Seattle which includes Daniel Sprong and draft picks. Johnston has the draft picks as a 2022 fourth-round selection and a 2023 sixth-round selection. The Kraken will also be retaining 50-percent of Johansson’s contract.
By Chris Cerullo 1 year ago
