Report: Caps place 2008 first-round pick on waivers

The Washington Post is reporting the Washington Capitals placed 2008 first-round pick Anton Gustafsson on unconditional waivers Wednesday.

Any team can claim his contract for $125; if Gustafsson goes unclaimed by noon ET on Thursday, the Post is reporting the Caps will terminate his contract.

Gustafsson, 21, was taken with the 21st pick of the 2008 Entry Draft. He's played just one game in North America, with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, in 2009-10. He failed to make the Capitals' roster to start the 2010-11 season and was assigned to Hershey, which then re-assigned him to the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL. After one preseason game with South Carolina, he returned home to Sweden, and the Capitals suspended his contract.

According to the Post, Gustafsson has battled injuries since being drafted. He played just 11 games last season, with Langnau in the Swiss-A league. In 2009-10 he was limited to just 34 games with Boras in Sweden.

Gustafsson is the son of former Capitals star forward and IIHF Hall of Famer Bengt-Ake Gustafsson.