Weeks of speculation as to who would be the Capitals’ first-round draft choice ended last night with the selection of Swedish center Marcus Johansson.
The Capitals selection of the 18-year-old from Farjestad marks the second straight year and the third in the last four that the Capitals have chosen a Swede in that position as its top pick.
“This was more than I expected, and I am really excited to get to know the team and the players,” enthused Johansson. “Anton I know, but not Backstrom. (Gustafsson and I) played on the national team a couple of times together, and sometimes he is up in Farjestad where I play and he is from there, so that’s how I know him pretty well.”
Capitals general manager George McPhee explained that he had been impressed by Johansson’s performance in the final of the 2009 WJC Tournament – adding that Johansson’s couple of concussions in the past did not dissuade him from making this first-round choice.
“He is a very well-rounded player, very good in almost every area of his game,” McPhee said. “(He is) quick, smart and competitive. I loved the way he played against Canada in the world junior final. In the final, in a real hostile environment with 20,000 Canadian fans going crazy, some of the Swedish kids didn’t show up, but this kid showed up and played hard.”
The Capitals' 24th overall pick in the NHL draft describes himself as a "hard worker."
And Hockey's Future has noted Johansson's "good all-around ability," adding, "A late 90-born, Johansson has been playing very well with Farjestad in the Swedish Elite League, contributing to both ends of the ice." Also on this website, "Johansson has impressive hockey sense, good technical skills and soft hands. He reads the play very well and is a skilled playmaker. (He) is also a speedy skater who does not shy away from rough stuff, although he is not really a big time physical player.”
Johansson scored 10 points in 45 games in the Swedish Elite League in 2008-09. And he was a member of silver-medal winning Team Sweden at the 2009 World Junior Championships where he scored two goals in six games. Earlier he represented Sweden at the 2007 Under18 World Championships, where the team captured the bronze, and the 2007 Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament where they walked away with gold.
But this young Swede is not the first of his family to make a mark on the ice notes his nhl.com Draft Prospect Card. Johansson's uncle, Gunnar, played for and coached Farjestad BK, and his brother, Martin, plays for the Swedish Elite League. And, in fact, Johansson credits his father and brother as having the greatest influence on his career -- his father for always pushing him and his brother for inspiring him to be better.
It is expected that the 5’ 11” tall and 189 pound Johansson will play in the Swedish league next year.
Hockey’s Future, Marcus Johansson Hockey’s Future, Sweden 2009 WJC preview nhl.com Draft Prospect Card - 2009 Sphere: Related Content
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