Capitals add Marcus Johansson, Johan Larsson in expiring trade deals, standing in the fold –

McClellan focused on carrying on after goalkeeper Vitek Vanecek’s game improvements. Earlier this month, McLellan said Washington was only interested in swapping the veteran goalkeeper if it was an “obvious upgrade”. On Monday, McLellan praised Vanachek’s game and said he felt comfortable with the Washington duo of Vachek and Ilya Samsonov.

“[Vanecek] “He deserves the opportunity to take the team to the playoffs,” McClellan said. “He stretched quite well, he got injured there, he came back and still played well. I think we have a certain level of comfort with his game and keeping him. “

Washington hired Seattle Cracken’s Johansson for Daniel Sprung and picked two draft picks. Johansson, 31, was selected by the Capitals in the first round of the 2009 draft and spent seven seasons in Washington. He played for four other teams before moving to Seattle in August. He played 51 games with 6 goals and 17 assists.

“He’s a really smart actor,” said Tom Wilson. He improves the players around him. He creates intelligent games: he organizes them very well. He spends a lot of time with Pak. He was a bit of an experienced young man when I was invited here. How many good memories of those days “.

Seattle will retain 50 percent of Johansson’s $ 1.5 million salary. He will become an unlimited free agent after the season.

Washington has bought Larson from the Arizona Coyotes to select the third round of the 2023 draft. The 29-year-old actress will be operated on for a sports hernia in early February. McLellan said Larson will need about a week of training before he is available. Arizona will keep 50 percent of Larson’s $ 1.4 million salary and she will be an unlimited free agent after this season. Larson, who can serve in the center and left flank, has scored 6 goals and 9 assists in 29 games.

“We have always loved Larson, even when we were in Buffalo. [from 2013 to 2020]”- said McClellan. “He was a good defender, he was versatile, he could play in the middle, he could play on the wing, he could shoot from the spot, he was a very responsible player, he was a good five-on-five man.” I think he also has many advantages.

Johansson offers a similar variety. He was a winger on the second row in Seattle, he can also play center and will be an asset in the power game.

“I think he has improved a lot as a player since he left,” said center Niklas Bechtrom, a Swedish player. “I talk to him often, he is a dear friend of mine and it will be good for him to come back here. I think he’s good for us as a team and it’s fun to bring him back here.

Washington sent Spring to Seattle, a fourth-round pick in this year’s draft and a sixth-round pick in 2023. Sprong’s play in Washington was poor – the coaching team often noted that the 25-year-old needed to improvements, especially in the defensive phase – but it has a positive side. He has scored 8 goals and 6 assists in 47 games this season.

During his introductory press conference with Seattle, Spong said he doesn’t expect a trade and thinks this season will be a “breakthrough year” with Capital. Ron Francis, Kraken’s chief executive, said Sprong is “a player they want to bring us back”.

“I generally thought I played good hockey,” Spong said. “Whatever the commercial side. But I know I can be a prolific player in this league and I will play 20 games in Seattle to prove it.

Injury problems persist

Defensive lineman John Carlson was absent from selection tests on Monday after Washington’s defeat to Dallas on Sunday left him with an unspecified injury. Coach Peter Laviolet has not provided any updates on Carlson’s condition. Carlson was injured after star Jamie Ben revealed he put him on the scoreboard in the closing seconds of Pak’s chase. No penalties were imposed and Ben received no additional discipline from the NHL.

Striker Tij Oshi has missed his last two games after injuring himself in Columbus last week. On Monday he trained in a full contact jersey, but had no information on Laviolet’s condition. Center Nic Dowd, who got injured in Carolina last week, was training in a contactless shirt. Laviolet said he hopes David’s injury isn’t a long-term problem.

McClellan said longtime paralyzed striker Carl Hegelin must undergo another procedure after undergoing eye surgery in early March.

Source: Washington Post

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