Capitals Sign Milton Gästrin To Entry-Level Contract As Development Camp Continues
The Washington Capitals have been impressed with second-round pick Milton Gästrin and put pen to paper on Thursday, signing the Swede to a three-year, entry-level contract.
ARLINGTON, V.A. — The Washington Capitals have been impressed with second-round pick Milton Gästrin and put pen to paper on Thursday, signing the Swede to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Gästrin’s contract will carry an average annual value of $877,500 at the NHL level and $85,000 in AHL. He is expected to be loaned to MoDo and play in the SHL for the 2025-26 season.
The 18-year-old was the No. 3-ranked international skater by NHL Central Scouting going into the 2025 NHL Draft. He was expected to go late in the first round but ultimately fell to No. 37, where the Capitals gladly took him.
Gästrin is attending his first NHL development camp in Washington this week and has impressed with his skating and playmaking ability.
"You're trying to get everything to soak in," Gästrin said, adding, "This is a great experience and I'm so happy to be here. I can take so much with me back home and work on stuff.”
He’s a strong two-way forward who can play center or wing, plays well in all three zone and has a high hockey IQ and great playmaking ability. He also works wonders at the net front.
"I'm a 200-foot player who loves to compete and can work really hard and got good skating and good vision and good passing ability as well. That's a simple way of describing it,” Gästrin said.