The Washington Capitals announced that they have signed 2025 second-round pick Milton Gastrin to a three-year, entry-level contract on Thursday.
Gastrin was the 37th overall pick in last weekend’s draft and is currently taking part in his first development camp with the Capitals. The deal will pay the 18-year-old center $877,500 at the NHL level and $85,000 in the AHL.
Gastrin is expected to spend the 2025-26 campaign back in Sweden with MoDo Hockey.
The Ornskoldsvik native played the majority of his draft year in the J20 junior league, recording 42 points (18g, 24a) in 40 games. Gastrin was also the captain of Team Sweden at the Under-18 World Junior Championship, notching 10 points (3g, 7a) in seven games en route to a silver medal.
Gastrin is likely to play the entirety of next year with MoDo’s senior team in the HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden’s second-tier professional league. They were relegated from the top-level SHL this past year.
While still in DC for the next few days at development camp, Gastrin expressed excitement about possibly experiencing Fourth of July fireworks and attending a Beyoncé concert at Nationals Park.
Here’s the full press release from the Capitals:
Capitals Sign Milton Gästrin
Forward was Washington’s Second-Round Pick in the 2025 NHL Draft
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have signed forward Milton Gästrin to a three-year entry-level contract beginning next season, senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick announced today. Gästrin contract will carry an average annual value of $877,500 at the NHL level and $85,000 in AHL. Gästrin is expected to be loaned to MoDo (Sweden) for the 2025-26 season.
The Capitals selected Gästrin in the second round, 37th overall, during the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles.
Gastrin, 18, was ranked third among all international skaters by NHL Central Scouting. The 6’1”, 194-pound forward spent the 2024-25 season with MoDo’s junior team (Sweden-Jr.), recording 42 points (18g, 24a) in 40 games played. Gastrin, who served as an alternate captain, led the team in goals and ranked second in assists and points. The Ornskoldsvik, Sweden native also made his professional hockey debut and appeared in eight regular-season games with MoDo of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). Internationally, Gastrin has captained Sweden at the 2025 IIHF Under-18 World Championship, the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. At the 2025 Under-18 World Championship, Gastrin earned a silver medal after tallying 10 points (3g, 7a) in seven games.
