Capitals sign Gavin Bjorklund to one-year extension

The Washington Capitals announced Monday they re-signed goaltender Garin Bjorklund to a one-year, two-way contract, which will carry an annual average value (AAV) of $775,000 at the NHL level and $110,000 in the AHL.

The 23-year-old Bjorklund posted a 21-4-3 record with a 2.02 goals against average (GAA) and .927 save percentage (SV%) and one shutout in 29 games with the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL. Bjorlkund ranked second in the ECHL in goals against average and third in save percentage, helping the Stingrays finished with the best record in the ECHL regular season.

The Grande Prairie, Alta., native made two starts for the Hershey Bears in the AHL, going 2-0-0 with a 1.49 GAA and .942 SV%.

Taken in the sixth round by the Capitals in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Bjorklund has spent the last three seasons in the ECHL with the Stingrays. Before turning pro, the 6-foot-2 netminder spent four seasons in the WHL with the Medicine Hat Tigers, posting a 40-48-4 record with an .892 save percentage and 3.50 GAA in 96 career games.

The Capitals finished the 2024-25 regular season with a 51-22-9 record and 111 points, first in the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference, and the second-best record in the NHL. They eliminated the Montreal Canadiens in five games in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but were eliminated in five games by the Carolina Hurricanes.

Captain Alex Ovechkin led the team in goals with 44, while Dylan Strome led in both assists and points with 53 and 82, respectively.