Reports are coming in that the Capitals have claimed defenseman Staffan Kronwall off the waiver wire. Kronwall was the Toronto Maple Leafs' 9th round selection (285th overall) in the 2002 NHL entry draft.
Standing at 6-4, 210 pounds, the 26-year-old Swedish defender is of the stay-at-home variety.
Kronwall has played 52 games in the NHL, earning an assist, one point and a minus five rating. His stats with the Toronto Marlies, the Maples Leafs AHL affiliate, are posted below.
Because he is being claimed off of waivers, the Capitals will only have to pay half of his salary. He is expected to be paid the league minimum, according to Tarik.
The last name Kronwall might sound familiar to some hockey fans. Staffan Kronwall's brother is Detroit Red Wing Niklas Kronwall.
Kronwall wears No. 44, which is currently availible on the Capitals roster. Kronwall joins Nicklas Backstrom and Michael Nylander as the Caps resident Swedes.
Kronwall's first NHL fight
Kronwall fighting at the AHL level
Pass or fail? Comment below!
He didn't get to play in NHL in Toronto and if he's not good enough to Toronto I doubt that he would be good enough to Capitals, so I'm kinda confused what they're going to do with him...
ReplyDeleteHe didn't get to play in NHL in Toronto and if he's not good enough to Toronto I doubt that he would be good enough to Capitals, so I'm kinda confused what they're going to do with him...
ReplyDeleteI think that's kind of faulty logic, just like it'd be faulty logic to, two years ago, say of a left wing "this guy can't even get a regular shift in Washington, he must be terrible" if the guy had been buried behind Ovechkin and Semin on the depth chart. It's not a perfect analogy but Toronto's defense isn't half bad.
I give the move a resounding 'pass'. It didn't cost the Capitals anything in the way of picks or prospects, the cap hit is minimal (literally) and his contract is up after this season. It's basically a no-risk proposition. If he works out, great. If he doesn't, no big deal.
He did play for Toronto, 52 games, but wasn't a clear stand-out. Sounds like he's a monster in the AHL, but at the NHL level he's unproven.
ReplyDeleteI believe the salary we are paying him is less than 100,000 for the remainder of the season and that price, I say a resounding pass.
We can use him, and lose him if he doesn't pan out.
A quick side note, we've talked alot about Eric Fehr needing to "seize the moment" and I'd say this applies to Kronwall. The Caps d has been poor and anyone who steps up and becomes a leader will likely be rewarded with ice time. Plus he's getting to play alongside Alex Ovechkin and fellow country man Nicklas Backstrom. I'd say there's alot of motivation for Kronwall to show what he can do given the opportunity he's been given.
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