The Washington Capitals announced they have re-signed goaltender Garin Bjorklund to a one-year, two-way contract. Capitals senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick made the announcement on Monday. Bjorklund's contract will carry an average annual value of $775,000 at the NHL level and $110,000 in the AHL.
The 23-year-old Bjorklund spent part of the 2024-25 season with the South Carolina Stingrays. He posted a 21-4-3 record with a 2.02 goals-against average, a .927 save percentage, and one shutout in 29 games with the Capitals’ ECHL affiliate this past season.
Bjorklund appeared in one post-season game for the Stingrays, a 5-3 victory over the Orlando Solar Bears in Game 1 of the South Division Semifinals. He stopped 19 of 22 shots to earn the win. Orlando went on to defeat the Rays in seven games to advance to the Division Finals.
In February, Bjorklund was named Warrior Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week, going 2-0-0 with a 0.50 goals-against average, .980 save percentage and one shutout for the week of Feb. 17-23.
The Grande Prairie, Alberta native made his debut with the American Hockey League’s Hershey Bears on March 26, making 26 saves in a 4-1 win at Bridgeport.
With the Caps’ AHL affiliate, Bjorklund went 2-0-0 with a 1.49 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage in 2024-25.
The 6-foot-2, 190-pound netminder ranked second in the ECHL in goals-against average and third in save percentage, helping the Stingrays capture the Brabham Cup championship as the ECHL team with the best record in the regular season.
He appeared in 27 games with South Carolina in 2023-24, posting a record of 14-11-1 with a 3.33 goals-against average, an .882 save percentage, and one shutout.
Prior to beginning his professional career with the Stingrays, Bjorklund played four seasons in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Medicine Hat Tigers, where he recorded a 40-48-4 record with a 3.50 goals-against average and an .892 save percentage in 96 career games.
The Capitals selected Bjorklund in the sixth round (179th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft.
Photo Courtesy of the ECHL