Calle Johansson

Carl Christian "Calle" Johansson (born 14 February 1967) is a Swedish former assistant coach with the Washington Capitals and former professional ice hockey defenceman who played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League between 1987 and 2004, most of it with the Capitals. He has worked as hockey colour commentator for Swedish Canal+ and worked as an assistant for six seasons for Frölunda HC in the Swedish Elitserien before returning to the Capitals organization.

Playing career Johansson was drafted out of Sweden by the Buffalo Sabres, he was picked 14th overall by the Sabres in the 1985 NHL entry draft. His first season, 1987–88, was a good one, as he compiled 38 assists and 42 points and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team. However, the next season he was traded to the Washington Capitals along with a second round draft choice in the 1989 NHL entry draft for Clint Malarchuk, Grant Ledyard, and a sixth round draft pick in the 1991 NHL entry draft.

Johansson prospered in Washington, as he became one of Washington's best defenceman over the next 15 seasons. Although he was behind the shadow of higher profile defencemen in Washington, such as Scott Stevens, Rod Langway, Kevin Hatcher, Al Iafrate and Sergei Gonchar, he was a solid contributor for the club. In the 1992–93 NHL season, Johansson was part of the defense core in Washington that set a new record for team defence scoring. Although Hatcher, Iafrate and Sylvain Côté all scored over 20 goals, Johansson helped get to the record with his seven goals.

Johansson was part of the Washington team that made their improbable run to the Stanley Cup finals in 1998, but the Capitals were defeated by the Detroit Red Wings.

Johansson retired after the 2002–03 NHL season, but the Toronto Maple Leafs persuaded him to come back and help their team in their playoff run the next season. However, the Leafs failed to win the Cup, and Johansson retired for good after the playoffs.

Television career After retiring the second time around, Johansson continued to work as a colour commentator and did studio analysis during game intermissions on Swedish Canal+. He was doing both Elitserien and NHL games and was one of the two main colour commentators at Canal+, the other one being former Tre Kronor coach Anders "Ankan" Parmström. Canal+ lost the Swedish broadcasting rights for NHL to the Viasat Group ahead of the 2009–2010 season. Together with former Canal+ commentator Niklas Holmgren, with whom Calle has developed a great chemistry when commentating, they subsequently signed for Viasat where they now continue in the same manner as when at Canal+.

Coaching career Johansson served as an assistant coach with Frolunda of the Swedish Elite League in 2006–07. On 18 July 2012 Johansson was named an assistant coach to the Washington Capitals, joining former Capitals teammate Adam Oates behind the bench. Two seasons later, on 23 June 2014 the Capitals announced that Johansson was leaving the team to rejoin his family in Sweden.

Awards Swedish Champion with IF Björklöven in 1987. Named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 1988. Gold medal at the 1991 and 1992 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships. Named to the World Cup of Hockey All-Star Team in 1996.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1981–82 KBA-67 SWE III 27 3 3 6 — — — — — — 1982–83 KBA-67 SWE III 29 12 11 23 — — — — — — 1983–84 Västra Frölunda IF SEL 28 4 4 8 10 — — — — — 1984–85 Västra Frölunda IF SWE II 41 14 14 28 50 — — — — — 1985–86 IF Björklöven SEL 17 1 2 3 14 — — — — — 1986–87 IF Björklöven SEL 30 2 13 15 20 6 1 3 4 6 1987–88 Buffalo Sabres NHL 71 4 38 42 37 6 0 1 1 0 1988–89 Buffalo Sabres NHL 47 2 11 13 33 — — — — — 1988–89 Washington Capitals NHL 12 1 7 8 4 6 1 2 3 0 1989–90 Washington Capitals NHL 70 8 31 39 25 15 1 6 7 4 1990–91 Washington Capitals NHL 81 11 41 52 23 10 2 7 9 8 1991–92 Washington Capitals NHL 80 14 42 56 49 7 0 5 5 4 1992–93 Washington Capitals NHL 77 7 38 45 56 6 0 5 5 4 1993–94 Washington Capitals NHL 84 9 33 42 59 6 1 3 4 4 1994–95 EHC Kloten NDA 5 1 2 3 8 — — — — — 1994–95 Washington Capitals NHL 46 5 26 31 35 7 3 1 4 0 1995–96 Washington Capitals NHL 78 10 25 35 50 — — — — — 1996–97 Washington Capitals NHL 65 6 11 17 16 — — — — — 1997–98 Washington Capitals NHL 73 15 20 35 30 21 2 8 10 16 1998–99 Washington Capitals NHL 67 8 21 29 22 — — — — — 1999–2000 Washington Capitals NHL 82 7 25 32 24 5 1 2 3 0 2000–01 Washington Capitals NHL 76 7 29 36 26 6 1 2 3 2 2001–02 Washington Capitals NHL 11 2 0 2 8 — — — — — 2002–03 Washington Capitals NHL 82 3 12 15 22 6 0 1 1 0 2003–04 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 8 0 6 6 0 4 0 0 0 2 SEL totals 75 7 19 26 44 6 1 3 4 6 NHL totals 1,110 119 416 535 519 105 12 43 55 44

International

Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 1984 Sweden EJC 5 2 3 5 6 1985 Sweden EJC 5 4 0 4 4 1986 Sweden WJC 7 1 1 2 6 1987 Sweden WJC 6 0 8 8 6 1991 Sweden WC 4 1 1 2 6 1991 Sweden CC 6 1 2 3 0 1992 Sweden WC 5 0 0 0 4 1996 Sweden WCH 4 1 5 6 8 1998 Sweden OG 4 0 0 0 2 Junior totals 23 7 12 19 22 Senior totals 23 3 8 11 20