Former second round pick gives up on his NHL dream
After being unable to find an appropriate spot on an NHL roster, unrestricted free agent Johan Larsson has decided to give up on his NHL dream. Larsson had decided to head home after signing a three-year contract with Brynäs IF of the Swedish Hockey League.
The 30-year-old was expected to sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 13, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Freidman. But that deal ultimately fell through. Larsson received offers from other teams as well but opted to return home to Sweden for a bigger role.
This past season the Washington Capitals acquired Larsson from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for a 2023 third-round pick at the March 21st trade deadline.
After missing the first four games of his Capitals' tenure with a lower-body injury sustained on January 25, Larsson tallied a goal and six points in 14 regular-season games and two assists in six Stanley Cup Playoff outings. He finished the season with seven goals and 21 points in 43 games with the Coyotes and Capitals.
In 488 career NHL regular-season games with the Capitals, Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres, and Minnesota Wild, Larsson earned 53 goals and 132 points.
He played two seasons with Brynäs before coming over to the NHL in 2012-13.
| POLL | ||
Will the Colorado Avalanche repeat as Stanley Cup Champions? | ||
| Yes, they're going to win again | 48 | 39 % |
| No, very few teams repeat | 75 | 61 % |
| List of polls | ||
