Washington

Capitals

McMichael will go into the Capitals’ training camp with a chance to earn a roster spot, but his odds of making the team were hurt by the addition of Dylan Strome. That move gives Washington Evgeny Kuznetsov, Strome, Nic Dowd, and Lars Eller up the middle, which means McMichael might need to serve as a winger to find a spot on the team. He had nine goals and 18 points in 68 contests last season. “I think it’s a competitive situation. I don’t think we’re coming in guaranteeing young guys spots in the lineup. I think, you know, part of it is you have to earn it to a certain degree,” Capitals GM Brian MacLellan said. “I think Connor’s gonna come in and he’s gonna be better than he was last year, and it’s gonna be, ‘How do we best develop him? How do we do what’s best for our lineup?’”

Strome scored 22 goals and 48 points in 69 contests with Chicago in 2021-22. It was a bounce back season for him, but the Blackhawks still decided against providing him with a qualifying offer. That made him an unrestricted free agent. “It’s a little bit, I mean, it’s frustrating, of course, because you think that you have a good season and you put all this effort and hard work and everything into a team, like you work so hard to be on a team and to make them want you and then they kind of just let you go,” Strome said. “It’s definitely not fun to hear for anyone. I don’t think anyone wants to hear that you don’t get qualified, but at the same time, new opportunities arise and you’ve got to adapt on the fly.” When he entered the UFA market, the Capitals expressed interest in him and he ultimately signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract. With Nicklas Backstrom out indefinitely, Strome could enter the season as Washington’s second-line center.

The Blue Jackets didn’t qualify Carlsson, which made him an unrestricted free agent. With his new deal, he can earn $750,000 in the NHL or $400,000 at the AHL level next season. He had two goals and nine points in 38 games with the Blue Jackets in 2021-22.

Wilson’s absence will be felt while he’s recovering. He’s developed into a key player of the Capitals, thanks to his blend of grit and skill. He had 24 goals, 52 points, and 240 hits in 78 games last season.

Persson produced 25 goals and 61 points 41 games for Frolunda HC J20 during the 2021-22 season. He also appeared in 10 games with the SHL club. Washington selected the 18-year-old forward in the third round (85th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft.

Washington chose Suzdalev in the third round (70th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft. He spent most of the 2021-22 season with HV71 J20 and had 51 points in 45 games.

Strome accumulated 22 goals and 48 points in 69 games for Chicago during the 2021-22 season. He was permitted to become an unrestricted free agent after the Blackhawks didn’t give him a qualifying offer. Strome will get a chance to fill in as Washington’s second-line center in 2022-23 due to the absence of Nicklas Backstrom, who had resurfacing surgery on his left hip a month ago.

The deal is worth $750,000 in the NHL and $450,000 in the AHL. Irwin posted one goal, three assists, 29 shots, 21 blocks and 36 hits in 17 games with Washington last season.

Johansson will get $1.1 million in 2022-23. He had nine goals and 29 points in a season split between the Seattle Kraken and the Capitals. The 31-year-old chipped in with a goal and an assist in six playoffs games with both coming in Game 3 against Florida.

Brown had 10 goals and 39 points in 64 contests in 2021-22. He has one season left on his three-year, $10.8 million contract and then he can become an unrestricted free agent.