The New Jersey Devils have acquired forward Marcus Johansson from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a 2nd round pick in 2018 (originally property of the Florida Panthers) and a 3rd round pick in 2018 (originally property of the Toronto Maple Leafs).
Johansson, 26, managed a career-high 24 goals and 58 points in 82 contests last season with the Capitals. He was also able to put up two goals and eight points in 13 Stanley Cup Playoff games this past season during the Capitals two-round playoff run. Johansson was originally selected in the first round, 24th overall, in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Over the course of 501 NHL games and seven seasons Johansson has accumulated 102 goals and 188 assists. Throughout the duration of his career, he has participated in 69 playoff games, scoring nine goals and 30 points in the process. He has two years left on a three-year deal worth $13.75 million, $4.58 million per year on average. Johansson’s 58 points would have ranked tops among all Devils forwards this past season, ahead of Kyle Palmieri (53), Taylor Hall (53), and Travis Zajac (45). His 24 goals would have placed second behind Palmieri (26) and ahead of Hall (20) and Adam Henrique (20).
The trade to the Devils marks Johansson’s first stint as a member of a team other than the Capitals. Coming in at 6’1″ and 209 pounds, Johansson will provide a left shot up front, either up the middle or possibly on the wing. Over the course of the 2016-17 campaign, the Capitals won the President’s Trophy as the league’s best regular season club before being eliminated in the post-season to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins. The Devils, meanwhile, finished 27th overall before winning the draft lottery, using that first overall pick to select Swiss centre Nico Hischier. On Sunday, following the opening day of free agency, the Capitals re-signed centre Evgeny Kuzentsov to an eight-year contract worth $62.5 million.
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