Tigers goaltender Garin Bjorklund facing Lethbridge forward Ty Nash on a breakaway pn January 15, 2022   (Photo courtesy Randy Feere / Medicine Hat Tigers)

By Scott Roblin

Entry Level Deal

Tigers goaltender Bjorklund inks NHL contract with Washington

Apr 29, 2022 | 11:26 AM

ARLINGTON, VA – Ever since he was picked 179th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, Medicine Hat Tigers goaltender Garin Bjorklund’s goal has been securing an NHL contract.

On Friday, he did just that.

The Washington Capitals formally signed the 19-year-old netminder to a three-year entry level contract, bringing Bjorklund into the fold just weeks after his junior season ended.

Playing parts of four seasons with the Tigers, Bjorklund became the club’s starting netminder ahead of the 2020-21 WHL season and has suited up in 96 career games for the organization.

That included 48 games this past year for the struggling Tigers, where he posted an 8-36-2 record with a 4.26 goals against average, a .877 save percentage and one shutout.

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Drafted in the sixth round by the Capitals, Bjorklund and Medicine Hat teammate Dru Krebs recently joined Washington’s AHL affiliate in Hershey on amateur tryouts.

Bjorklund is still eligible to return to Medicine Hat next season and would take up one of the club’s three overage spots in the process.