Photo: Team Sweden
The Washington Capitals announced Thursday afternoon that they have signed defenseman Hardy Häman Aktell to a one-year, two-way entry-level contract ($775,000/$82,500). Häman Aktell, 24, recorded 36 points (9g, 27a) in 51 games with the Växjö Lakers of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) this season.
Haman Aktell, who turns 25 in July, took a step forward offensively, this past season. He also helped the club win another SHL Championship—his second in three seasons—by adding three goals and seven points in 18 playoff games.
Graphic: Elite Prospects
Häman Aktell was originally drafted by the Nashville Predators in the fourth round, 108th overall, in the 2016 NHL Draft, but was not signed by the team.
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ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have signed defenseman Hardy Häman Aktell to a one-year, two-way entry-level contract ($775,000/$82,500), senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.
Häman Aktell, 24, recorded 36 points (9g, 27a) in 51 games with the Växjö Lakers of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) this season. The 6’3″, 220-pound defenseman led Växjö in plus/minus (+23), ranked second on the team in assists and points and tied for third among SHL defenseman in points. The Kåge, Sweden native added seven points (3g, 4a) and recorded a +6 plus/minus rating in 18 playoff games, helping Växjö capture the SHL championship for the second time in three years. In 151 career SHL games with Växjö, Häman Aktell has recorded 63 points (17g, 46a).
Prior to joining Växjö in 2020-21, Häman Aktell recorded 16 points (6g, 10a) in 45 games with IF Björklöven of HockeyAllsvenskan (Sweden-2) during the 2019-20 season and six points (1g, 5a) in 34 games during the 2018-19 season.
Häman Aktell was originally drafted by the Nashville Predators in the fourth round, 108th overall, in the 2016 NHL Draft.
The Athletic’s Corey Pronmon has Haman-Aktell listed as his number one free agent this upcoming off-season.
Haman Aktell was my top ranked player of this free agent cycle https://t.co/iO7meCfm0F https://t.co/yNzaapQJIc
— Corey Pronman (@coreypronman) April 27, 2023
It’s likely Haman Aktell will be initially assigned to Hershey, depending on upcoming free agency and play in training camp, but could be a potential callup to the Capitals next season.
The deal is very similar to the Gabriel Carlsson signing by the Capitals last summer, who is a restricted free agent this summer.
By Jon Sorensen