Monday, May 17, 2010

Capitals Sign Center Marcus Johansson

Press Release

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have signed center Marcus Johansson, the team’s first-round choice in the 2009 Entry Draft, to a three-year entry-level contract, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today. McPhee introduced Johansson and presented him with a No. 90 Capitals jersey this morning at the team’s training facility, Kettler Capitals Iceplex. In keeping with club policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Johansson, 19, is a 5’11”, 189-pound native of Landskrona, Sweden, who recently finished his second season with Farjestads of the Swedish Elite League (SEL), the top professional league in Sweden. He recorded 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in 42 games this season in the SEL, finishing tied for fourth on the team in goals and sixth in points. Johansson also made his second appearance for Team Sweden in the World Junior Championship. He had six points (one goal, five assists) and a +7 rating in five games and, as Sweden’s captain, led the team to the bronze medal.

Johansson recorded 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 45 games for Farjestads in 2008-09 and scored two goals in six games at the 2009 World Junior Championship, winning a silver medal.

Johansson proved to be a steady threat for Sweden at the under-18 level as well. He helped his team to the gold at the 2007 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and to the bronze at the 2007 Under-18 World Championship.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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