The Washington Capitals searched for a top-six forward and they believe they’ve landed one with the acquisition of a familiar face. Washington have acquired forward Marcus Johansson from the Seattle Kraken in exchange for forward Daniel Sprong, a 2022 fourth-round draft pick and a 2023 sixth-round draft pick.
The Kraken retained 50% of Johansson’s $1.5 million contract for the remainder of the season.
Washington drafted Marcus Johannson in the first round of the 2009 NHL Draft. He spent seven seasons with the Capitals. His best season came in 2016-17 when he had career highs of 24 goals, 58 points and a plus-25 rating.
However, the Capitals, faced with salary cap restraints, traded Johansson to the New Jersey Devils following that season.
In the four seasons away from Washington, Johansson played for five teams and been traded multiple times. The Devils traded him to the Boston Bruins during the 2018-19 season.
He signed a two-year free agent deal with the Buffalo Sabres in 2019. But after one season, he was traded to the Minnesota Wild. He signed a one-year deal with the Seattle Kraken for this season.
During that time, Johansson has had his worst seasons in the NHL. He tallied 39 goals, 72 assists and a minus-71 rating in 106 games over the four seasons since his Capitals’ departure. This season, he had six goals, 17 assists and a minus-22 rating in 51 games with the expansion Kraken.
Coming back to Washington will give him a chance to be more productive. The Capitals are surely a better team this season than any of those five teams he played for the last four years.
He’s expected to slot in at right wing on the second line with Nicklas Backstrom and Anthony Mantha.
Sprong, 25, moves on to Seattle after two seasons with the Capitals. He scored 21 goals and had 13 assists in 89 games in Washington.
