The Washington Capitals are reuniting with veteran forward Marcus Johansson, acquiring him from the Seattle Kraken on Monday morning, just hours before the league’s 3 p.m. ET trade deadline, as first reported by TSN’s Chris Johnston.
Johansson spent the first seven seasons of his NHL career with Washington, recording 102 goals and 188 assists (290 points) in 501 games with the team.
After being traded to the New Jersey Devils prior to the 2017-18 season, the 31-year-old has played for five different teams over the past four years — including being signed as a free agent by the expansion Kraken.
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His role in Washington will be somewhat different than his first stint with the team. As a player who scored 24 goals and added 24 assists in 2016-17 — his last year with the Capitals — Johansson has scored just 33 goals in 183 games (6.6 goals per season).
This time around, he will be utilized as a secondary scoring option that will likely be used on a third or fourth line that could also get some power-play minutes in a pinch.
His veteran presence will also provide a locker-room boost with 97 career playoff games under his belt.
In 51 games with Seattle this season, Johansson posted six goals and 17 assists (23 points). He will be an unrestricted free agent following this season.
