Courtesy: Rick Stewart/Allsport
Calle Johansson has been named the assistant coach of the Washington Capitals. Johansson, a native of Goteberg, Sweden played 1,109 games in the NHL, registering 119 goals and 416 assists with 519 PIM with the Buffalo Sabres and the Washington Capitals before retiring in August 2003. He came out of retirement that year and played in 8 games plus 4 playoff games with the Toronto Maple Leafs before retiring again for good. He helped the Capitals to 11 post season runs in his 15 year career in D.C., and along with Head Coach Adam Oates and Associate Goaltending Coach Olaf Kolzig, he was a member of the 1998 team that lost in the Stanley Cup Finals to Detroit. Johansson has been a color commentator and analyst for a Swedish television station for the Swedish Elite League and the NHL and was an assistant coach for Frolunda of the SEL in 2006-2007.
Johansson came to Capitals in 1988-89 along with a 2nd round draft pick (Byron Dafoe) in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres that saw Clint Malarchuck, Grant Ledyard and a 1991 6th round draft pick (Sean O’Donnell) go the other way. He became an instant fixture on the Caps blueline, and was praised for his special teams and transitional play.
This is a great addition to the Capitals bench to help bring balance to a team in desperate need of an identity and he should do well in grooming the Caps young defensemen. Johansson was one of Washington’s greatest blueliners and players in his tenure here, holding the record for most games played (983) and points by a defenseman (474) and is one of the most respected Swedish players of all time.
*Also posted at http://www.ihatejjr.com/content/caps-name-calle-johansson-assistant-coach *
