Capitals sign Milton Gastrin to NHL entry-level contract

The Washington Capitals announced Thursday that the club has signed forward Milton Gastrin to a three-year, entry-level contract. Per the agreement, Gastrin will be play on loan in Sweden for the coming campaign.

Gastrin was originally chosen 37th overall by the Capitals in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Through 40 appearances last season with MoDo of the Swedish junior league, Gastrin collected 18 goals and 24 assists to finish second in team scoring with 42 points coupled with 18 penalty minutes and a plus-six rating. Gastrin also saw eight showings with MoDo’s top-tier league team in which he registered two penalty minutes and a minus-two mark.

The 2024-25 campaign also saw Gastrin star in international competition as he captained the Swedes at the 2025 IIHF Under-18 World Championship that saw him put up 10 points counting three goals and seven assists in seven games en route to a silver medal. Gastrin also joined Sweden at last summer’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup where as captain he finished second in team scoring with 10 points counting three goals and seven assists in five outings to guide his squad to a bronze-medal victory. Previously, Gastrin took home bronze at the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, putting up five points in seven games.

Gastrin was one of five players selected by the Capitals in the 2025 NHL Draft. On Friday, Washington chose Moose Jaw Warriors forward Lynden Lakovic at No. 27 overall, and then followed up that selection with Gastrin, Berlin Polar Bears forward Maxim Schafer, Chicago Steel forward Jackson Crowder, and Brynas defenseman Aron Dahlqvist.

The Capitals closed out the 2024-25 season with the Eastern Conference’s best record of 51-22-9 and 111 points. Washington then eliminated the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs before later falling to the Carolina Hurricanes.