Interview with Marcus Johansson
by EmilyB on May 17, 2010 11:44 PM EDT
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I found this Swedish-language interview with the Caps' newest Viking, apparently given at the airport on his way back to Sverige. (The Backstrom entourage has also apparently returned to Ye Olde Countrie for the sommer as well, so no celebrity sightings in Georgetown tonight.) The interview itself isn't all that remarkable, but may answer a few questions you may have had:
Although Marcus Johansson has now signed with the Washington Capitals, he has a special clause for next season.
MJ: I have a European clause first year, if I don't get a spot on the Capitals I can go and do a season in Sweden or elsewhere in Europe. But I hope it will not be the case.
VFSport: Are you still ready to play some of the AHL if needed?
MJ: Yes, I can imagine few games there and it can certainly be useful. But I do not want to do a full season in the AHL.
VFSport: What are your thoughts now after you have signed?
MJ: It feels great, fun and incredibly exciting. I am really looking forward to coming here and playing and getting to know the team and city.
VFSport: You decided you would sign when you were there [ed. - in Dev. Camp 2009?], if I understand correctly?
MJ: Yes, exactly. I got a really good impression of the club and the entire organization when I came here. So it felt quite right.
VFSport: The fact that Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin play for the club did not make the choice more difficult?
MJ: No, ha ha. They are two fantastic players that I really look forward to play with. I got the chance to meet Nick, now that I was here and he's a great guy.
Färjestads GM was not overly surprised by Marcus' decision.
- Both and, given that they chose him in the first round so it is not so surprising.
• How will you act upon it?
- For our part, we of course have full crew if we manage to tie up Rickard Wallin, which we hope for. Then if it turned out later on we would need to add any more.
The fact that there is now an NHL contract Färjestad will get 200 000 dollars for Marcus Johansson.
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Johansson’s nameplate was next to Backstrom’s in the Capitals’ dressing room Monday. It have been more symbolism than reality, but the team will expect their 22-year-old center to shift from pupil to mentor.
If Johansson does prove he belongs in the NHL, he will likely be spending a lot of time hanging out with Backstrom next season.
"I’m going to work as hard as I ever have [this summer]," Johansson said. "I’m going to come over for the camps and get to know the city more and get to know the smaller rinks. I’m going to be as prepared as I can."
Added Backstrom: "For me it was kind of tough in the beginning. I think it will be easier for him because I am here and I am a Swedish guy and he can ask me everything. I was in the same situation. On the ice, he just needs to go out and play with no pressure. He’s coming to a good team. Off the ice – just enjoy it. He’s going to have a good time. Moving from Sweden to here in Washington is really fun. I was really excited to do that and I am still excited."
thanks, YLM. good to have some clarification on the european out clause, though i can’t imagine a situation where he’d start in the AHL and have any certainty of making the caps during the season.
In the new agreement between the Swedish Hockey Federation and nhl all players that are drafted after the first round are guaranteed to have the option that they can go back to Europe if they don’t make the team out of training camp.
In the last week both Tedenby and Josefsson and now Johansson all first rounders signed contracts with a European out clause that’s something they (and their agents) valued enough to negotiate about it). It’s going to be interesting to follow how this new trend pan out. The SEL are going to have full teams and the season starts much earlier then in North America so if they choose to go back there will be some problems for sure.
What can I say I’m a JP fangirl. I will follow him into the darkest and filthiest of alleys, even the comment section at Puck Daddy.
VFSport: You decided you would sign when you were there [ed. – in Dev. Camp 2009?], if I understand correctly?
MJ: Yes, exactly. I got a really good impression of the club and the entire organization when I came here. So it felt quite right.
He didn’t participate in Dev. Camp las year. If you watch the presser he talks about why he didn’t attend. It’s the part were he can’t find the word for The Combine and instead he says “the place were we work out.”
The Swedish quote
• Du bestämde dig när du var på plats, om jag förstått det rätt?
– Ja, precis. Jag fick ett jättegott intryck av klubben och hela organisationen när jag kom hit. Så det kändes helt rätt.
What he says is that he hadn’t decided before he arrived if he would sign a contract but it felt right because he got such a great impression of the organization.
What can I say I’m a JP fangirl. I will follow him into the darkest and filthiest of alleys, even the comment section at Puck Daddy.
“For me it was kind of tough in the beginning. I think it will be easier for him because I am here and I am a Swedish guy and he can ask me everything.
What about super-mentor Michael Nylander?
Tic Tac Toe Hockey -- Original Caps Photography For The Fan With Compromised Standards
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by turnituptoeleven on May 18, 2010 7:13 AM EDT reply actions
maybe he meant practice and playing in games? Did Nylander play for all of Nick’s first season?Also, Nylander was an older married guy with kids. Nicky and MJ are closer in age and can enjoy the nightlife together.
it’s true that nylander missed a bunch of games (42) during backstrom’s rookie year, but they were initially linemates under hanlon, and a lot was made of “nylander the mentor” having backstrom over to his house, etc.
by Natty Bumppo on May 18, 2010 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions
No, he meant Mama Nylander took good care of Nicky and cooked meals of familiar Swedish recipes for him which for a long time was all he would eat.
I think the question is why was Nicky discounting what the Nylanders did for him when saying it would be easier for MJ having Nicky around than it was for him. I was just listing possible reasons. Maybe the Nylanders cooked for Nicky at times but he was on his own otherwise. Perhaps he just meant that he has a lot more free time to spend with Marcus and they can do single guy types of stuff together that Nicky couldn’t do with Nylander. Also if Nylander didn’t play half the season with Nicky, Nicky was probably paired up with someone else as a roommate, maybe that was a difficult transition for him.
Ultimately it doesn’t matter. Nicky is just starting to test his new wings…whether he planned it or not, he is growing into a leader. The ‘A’ looks pretty natural on him, yes?
Update - an interview with Hockeysverige
Playing in Färjestad rather than AHL – “Will use my European Clause”
NHL or Major League. Marcus Johansson has signed a three year contract with the Washington Capitals, but has no plans to play AHL hockey for the Hershey Bears if he would not take a place in the star-filled NHL.
“Should I end up in the Farm Team, I would definitely use the Euro-clause in my contract and play with Farjestad another season. If they have room for me,”said Marcus Johansson.
Priority number one is to take a place in the NHL. 19-year-old was drafted in the first round last summer and has a CLEVER rookie season behind him with 20 points (10 +10) in 42 games.
“Everything has gone very quickly. Beyond our expectations. I have not gone and dreamed of an NHL opportunity. It was just a dream to play in premier league and Farjestad. The dream I have had since I was little,” he says.
A look at Washington’s roster Marcus Johansson gives another reason to pinch themselves hard in the arm. Both one and two times. "Feels like a dream that together with Alexander Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. I have not taken it quite yet. "
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| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida
|
55 | 27 | 17 | 11 | 65 |
|
Washington
|
55 | 28 | 22 | 5 | 61 |
|
Winnipeg
|
57 | 26 | 25 | 6 | 58 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
55 | 24 | 25 | 6 | 54 |
|
Carolina
|
56 | 20 | 25 | 11 | 51 |
(updated 2.13.2012 at 1:00 PM EST)
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