Capitals First Round Pick Lucas Johansen Joins Hershey Bears

At the end of the Hershey Bears practice on Friday, two of the last three Washington Capitals first-round picks were on the ice working on one-timers together. Lucas Johansen was feeding Jakub Vrana pucks for Vrana to slapshot into an open net, a sight Washington Capitals fans hope to see for years to come.

Johansen, 19, joins Hershey after his third season with the Kelowna Rockets. They were eliminated from the WHL Playoffs by Seattle on Sunday, allowing for the defenseman to sign an ATO with the Bears.

“It’s been great so far,” said Johansen. “Everything has been pretty smooth despite the canceled flight in Toronto. It’s been a really fun experience coming here for my first time. All the guys on the team have been great to me so far. It’s a good place to be.”

Head coach Troy Mann said on Wednesday that there’s a possibility the d-man could see some ice time if the Bears needs him. “I’m here ready to play if they need me,” Johansen stated. “If not, I’m here to get better. I look at it as a good opportunity to improve myself whether I’m playing or not. I’ll be ready to go regardless of my situation.”

The Port Moody, British Columbia native does have a connection to the Chocolate and White with a former teammate. Madison Bowey was Johansen’s first captain with the Rockets in 2014-15 when the two won the WHL Championship before falling in the Memorial Cup Final.

Bowey had a lot of praise for the young defenseman and his skill he was with the puck. “He thinks the game really well,” said Bowey. “He’s really poised with the puck, a lot like Christian Djoos in a way. He’s not afraid to jump up in the play and help out offensively. If he gets a shot here, I know he’ll do just that.”

There’s a sense of responsibility Bowey feels to help out Johansen, as the two are teammates once again. “For him, coming in having a familiar face like myself, it makes it a lot more comfortable for younger guys. I’m just trying to help him out along the way and show him the ropes. I know he’s a good professional already, but if I can just help him with the little things, just letting him know what to expect from the coaching staff and everything like I think he’ll be just fine.”