The Capitals have signed Swedish forward Mattias Sjogren to a two-year entry-level NHL contract worth $1.8 million. The team confirmed the news – first reported by Swedish newspapers Aftonbladet and Expressen – on Wednesday morning. Stick tap to the website Japer’s Rink for the initial link to both the Aftonbladet and Expressen articles.
The 23-year-old Sjogren was never drafted by an NHL team, but had a breakthrough season for Farjestads in the Swedish Elite League in 2010-11. Sjogren played in 64 games, including 13 in the postseason, and registered a career-best eight goals and 25 assists (33 points). He helped Farjestads – the former club team of Caps center Marcus Johansson – to the SEL championship.
“We are pleased to have Mattias join the Capitals organization,” McPhee said in a statement. “He is a big center who has developed very well over the past few seasons and is ready for a new challenge.”
The 6-foot-2, 214-pound Sjogren was also selected to play for Sweden at the IIHF World Championships last month, where the Swedes earned the silver medal. Of the 14 forwards on that team Sjogren played the third-fewest total minutes in his national team debut. He did have a game-winning goal and three assists in nine contests. He spent his first two seasons in the SEL with Rogle Angelholm, which finished last in 2009-10 and 11th in 2008-09. Sjogren totaled 17 goals and 18 assists in his two years there. Can’t confirm this right now, but Aftonbladet said 12 NHL teams were in the mix for Sjogren.
Couple of YouTube videos here with a hit at the World Championships on an unfortunate Norwegian player and here – a highlight video – and here, where he scores a goal in an SEL game for Farjestads against Brynas, Nicklas Backstrom’s old team. Just watching those clips it seems like Sjogren has some jam to his game. At the very least he should provide insurance at a position where the Caps have some holes right now. Remember, both Jason Arnott and Boyd Gordon are unrestricted free agents. But too early to call him a replacement for any specific player on the current roster. Is he skilled enough to play on the second line? Is he part of the revamping of the third and fourth lines? Or will he have to fight just to make the NHL roster? That salary alone tells me the Caps think he’s an NHL player off the bat. Then again – nothing is confirmed until tSjogren proves himself during training camp.
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