Screencap: @Capitals
After re-acquiring him at the trade deadline last season, the Washington Capitals opted to re-sign forward Marcus Johansson to a one-year contract to return for a full season. The former Caps draft pick spoke with the media after Thursday’s practice of training camp.
The soon to be 32-year old, Landskrona, Sweden native is entering his eighth full season in Washington across two stints (he previously played with the team from 2010-2017), after playing 18 games last season following the trade from the Seattle Kraken.
“I think the depth is just crazy on this team”, said Johansson, when asked to compare this Capitals team to others he has been a part of, “I feel like we have unbelievable depth, a lot of good hockey players. I think a lot of guys can play anywhere. We’re still missing two of the best players in Nick [Nicklas Backstrom] and Tom [Tom Wilson] so, yeah it’s got, I feel like we have four lines that can play and contribute, so that’s a big strength.”
Despite a large amount of roster turnover since his last full campaign in Washington, Johansson says the atmosphere is still very much the same. “No I feel it’s pretty similar, which is good, I feel like it’s always been a good vibe here, I like it.”
With a menagerie of options offensively, the Capitals’ coaching staff have been putting Johansson in various spots in the lineup, something the former first-round pick was accustomed to during his last stint in Washington.
“I think they’re still trying some things out, that’s normally what camp is, so not thinking too much about it, just trying to play my game, and do what I can to help the team, wherever it is”, Johansson said.
“So really don’t think too much about it.”
Despite playing with various teammates, Johansson insists that it doesn’t require him to change the way he plays.
“No, not too much. You still have to do what you do I guess, somehow. I feel like when I practice with Dowder [Nic Dowd] and Hath [Garnet Hathaway], I have the puck a lot, and try to make plays as well, so it doesn’t really matter to me.”
Johansson also had strong compliments for teammate Lars Eller, who figures to be a key player at Center with the absence of Nicklas Backstrom.
“Not much either, he’s such a hard worker too”, Johansson commented, “He can play both offense and defense. I find he’s rarely out of position, and also one of those guys that’s just very easy to play with. He’s strong on the puck and makes plays, so he’s another one like that, you go out and do your thing and he’s always going to be there to support you and work and win the puck back, so very easy to play with.”
The Capitals head to Detroit to take on the Red Wings in preseason action tomorrow at 7:30 ET.
“It’s definitely something I take pride in. That’s part of me as a hockey player, I think.”
Marcus Johansson discusses how his comfortability in playing up and down the lineup has translated during training camp so far. #ALLCAPS | @MedStarHealth pic.twitter.com/R6tb78k5Kr
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 29, 2022
By Michael Fleetwood
MoJo, you are correct that this team has lots of good depth and many young players waiting for their chance to play. Please, Please do the right thing and either ask for a trade or simply retire as you are not as good as and do not have the potential of the younger players. If you have invested your money wisely then you should have a nice bankroll. So Please for the sake of the future of this team ask for a trade or go play in Sweden or some other place in Europe!! Maybe you will become the first ever player to do what is right rather than hanging around for all to see how eroded his skills have become and how he prevented a younger player from having a job and growing!
Possibly the biggest head-scratching move by Mac, ever. Except maybe Curtis Glenncross.
If he does that the CAPS will just replace him with an OLDER FART who skates even slower 😝
You better bring it, JoJo!
If he doesnt score 15 goals and reach 50 points then GMBM should be fired! They are keeping him as he is experienced and knows the players here so lets see the washed up 32 year old prove that he is worth a spot over a rookie with potential!
yawn….y’all know more than Caps mgmt and many other NHL teams as well. Ovechkin, Kuzy and so many others take spots and make the NHL roster and you guys want the young guys to be handed roles. Such a joke. Y’all must be a part of the participation trophy crowd.
The last players I am worried about is these fringe players that can’t convincingly take a spot on the 4th line at 22-25 years old.
Actually MoJo is probably going to be on the 3rd line not the 4th. I have seen good signings and bad ones by the Caps and useless ones like this one. Why useless as we have younger players who can do the same as MoJo and have more of a future with this team rather than a retread just because the HC doesnt like rookies or younger players. As this team needs to get younger and faster keeping this player for the coaches preference does not help the team. Especially since this team has 13 UFA or RA after this season there is a need to see what the younger players, especially those who cannot go through waivers can do and possibly help the team in the future rather than keeping a player on the downside of his career. Frankly you comment is an embarrassment to yourself as star players like those you mention are vastly different than the fringe player that MoJo has become. And not handed but also not tossed out because they are young and the HC has his preferences and they are not good preferences for the future of this team. My suggestion for you would be go back to watching golf or maybe cornhole and leave hockey to those that know it and love it!
My comment is an embarrassment to myself…??
So you mena the HC doesn’t like rookies like McMichael or Fehervary or Samsinov or Vitek…players that take spots?? Hell, the caps nearly broke a record last year with rookies playing. Granted due to injury. They extended Snively…
Seems he saw enough that he is going with 12 year vet and former 1st round pick Johansson…a guy that cracked a star studded line up at the age of 20 to begin that 12 year nhl run.
Yes yes, I am so embarrassed.
In two years the caps are likely to have these centers:
Kuzy
McMichael
LaPierre
Stromme
While this team won’t be the same, it will be far from something like the Devils and Coyotes and many others are that went the rebuild route. Either way, AJF,
Leason and others will not make or break the future of this team.