Former Panthers first-rounder expected to sign in Sweden

After seeing action in just one NHL game this season, it seemed like there was a good chance that Washington Capitals center Henrik Borgstrom would be looking to go elsewhere for 2023-24.  Rather than wait to see if he would be tendered by Washington, it appears that Borgstrom has found his next landing spot. SportExpressen’s Johan Svensson reports that the middleman is expected to play for HV71 in Sweden upcoming.

The 25-year-old returned to North America in 2021-22, signing a two-year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks.  After struggling in 52 contests with Chicago, though, the Blackhawks opted to buy out the final year of that deal, making him an unrestricted free agent.  Borgstrom then quickly signed with the Capitals, hoping to push for a spot at the bottom of their roster.

That didn’t exactly happen. Instead, Borgstrom cleared waivers before the start of the season and spent almost the entire year with AHL Hershey.  He was not overly productive with the affiliate club either, picking up eight goals and 13 assists in 55 games -- hardly the type of impact he must have been hoping to have.  That lackluster level of play resulted in just a single recall at the end of the season, when he played in Washington’s penultimate contest, though only for just over eight minutes.

Borgstrom, who has 111 career NHL appearances under his belt, is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer. Washington could have his rights for two more years if they qualify him.  At this point, the term of the agreement will likely dictate what the Capitals do.  If it is a multi-year pact, Borgstrom will be an NHL free agent by the time it expires, meaning there would be little point in qualifying him.  But if it is only a one-year agreement, it would make some sense to tender that offer, just in case he has a breakout showing that would get him back on the NHL radar.