As reported by PuckPedia, Muggli’s yearly salary will be $941k. The 18-year-old defenseman was present at last week’s Development Camp; he was drafted by the club in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft, 52nd overall.
In 42 games played for EV Zug last season in the Swiss National League, Muggli recorded 12 points (3 goals, 9 assists). With 12 points, he set a new league record for a defenseman 17 years old or younger, and he also led all skaters under the age of 18 in scoring.
Roman Josi, a defenseman who won the Norris Trophy, was the previous record holder. The leading defenseman for the Nashville Predators, Josi, had just eight points in his rookie season (2 goals, 6 assists).
The Swiss national hockey team’s U18 and U20 World Junior teams included the 18-year-old blueliner. He led the Swiss team to victory at the U18 event.
After last week’s signings of first-round pick Terik Parascak and third-round pick Ilya Protas, the Capitals have already added three players from their 2024 draught class. Additionally, they inked Cam Allen, a draft pick from the class of 2023, to an entry-level deal.
The transaction has been officially announced by Washington (7/11).
Presented herewith is the team’s press release:
Defenseman Leon Muggli has been signed to an entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals for three years, as announced today by senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick. The average yearly value of Muggli’s contract is $940,833. Muggli will reportedly spend the 2024–25 season on loan with EV Zug of the Swiss National League (NL) from the Capitals.
Muggli, who was 18 years old, was chosen by the Capitals with the 52nd overall choice in the 2024 NHL Draft. In 42 games for EV Zug in the 2023-24 season, the defenceman, who stood at 6’1″ and weighed 173 pounds, had 12 points (3 goals, 9 assists). With 12 points, Muggli became the youngest defenseman in National League history, and he turned 18 on July 9. No other under-18 player had scored more than him. The young player from Cham, Switzerland also had action with Zug’s under-20 squad, appearing in four games and assisting on two goals. Muggli captained Switzerland at the 2024 Under-18 World Championships, where he played in all three games and scored once. He also competed for Switzerland at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the 2024 World Junior Championship.
Muggli played for two different Zug teams in the 2023–23 season. In 22 games for the under-20 team, he had eight points (1 goal, 7 assists), while in 16 games for the under-17 squad, he was captain and had eleven points (5 goals, 6 assists). Plus, with four points (1g, 3a) in four games, Muggli was awarded the tournament’s top defenseman and lead Switzerland to a gold medal in the 2023 European Youth Olympics.
According to NHL Central Scouting, Muggli was ranked fifth among international defenseman and eleventh overall among international skaters.
