The 32-year-old forward, who signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the Capitals on July 13, 2022, can become an unrestricted free agent after this season. Washington acquired Johansson in a trade with the Seattle Kraken on March 21 for forward Daniel Sprong, a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft and a sixth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
RELATED: [2022-23 NHL Trade Tracker]
Johansson has 28 points (13 goals, 15 assists) in 60 games this season. It was his second stint with the Capitals, who selected him in the first round (No. 24) of the 2009 NHL Draft. He has 435 points (157 goals, 278 assists) in 813 regular-season games for the Capitals, New Jersey Devils, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Wild and Kraken.
He played 36 games for Minnesota in 2020-21.
"When he was here before, he had had some injuries. He was part of that Vegas series that went seven, but he broke his arm in Game 3 (2021 Stanley Cup First Round). So, it didn't end great for him here, but he was always a good fit," Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin said. "He was always a good fit in the locker room, on the ice. He's versatile. He can play center and wing, skates really well. He'll be on the second power play. He was a good fit before. We liked to have him. Being traded at anytime is tough, but sometimes being traded at the deadline can be really tough. And I just figured, you know what? He's been here before, he has a lot of friends on this team, his family's been here, hopefully it can be an easier adjustment. That was some of the thinking behind it."
The Wild (33-21-6) are third in the Central Division, one point behind the Colorado Avalanche for second and three behind the Dallas Stars for first. Minnesota also acquired forward Gustav Nyquist from the Columbus Blue Jackets later in the day for a fifth-round pick in the 2023 draft.
"I think if you're talking about playoff type players, I think we have enough grit. I think we have enough toughness, size and things like that," Guerin said. "These two players I think are what we were missing. What we needed. And that is, they're highly-skilled guys, excellent skaters. I think they're going to provide us with just some, that natural ability out there. They're both effortless skaters and just high hockey sense guys that can make plays. I think we could really use them."
The Capitals (29-27-6) are three points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second wild from the Eastern Conference. They have not missed the postseason since 2013-14.
