Beck Malenstyn – McKeen's Hockey

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: WASHINGTON CAPITALS – RANK: #28 – TIER VI

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 11 Sep 2021 12:20:36 +0000

Washington Capitals

#28 Washington - Washington has been trying to add some higher end players of late, but not enough of them. There may not be ten real future NHLers in this system.

Connor McMichael

Connor McMichael

It was an excellent development year for McMichael, especially given the circumstances surrounding his first pro season (thrust into the AHL as a 19-year-old because of the OHL’s cancellation). McMichael finished the season as Hershey’s leading scorer and was subsequently named to the AHL’s All-Rookie team. The 2019 first round selection has put himself firmly in competition for NHL playing time as early as this upcoming season.

The former London Knights star has the potential to be an extremely versatile player. He can play any forward position. He has the intelligence level to play in any situation. And he is a more than competent finisher, due to a great wrist shot and scoring instincts. While he may not project as a first line all-star at the NHL level, he does have a chance of becoming a consistent 20-goal scorer and someone who can play a middle six role for Washington in the near and distant future. Look for him to split the year between the AHL and NHL this upcoming season, likely serving as the Capitals’ top injury call-up. In that situation, he should establish himself as an NHL regular by the time the 2022/23 season comes along. - BO

Hendrix Lapierre

How good it feels to see a healthy Hendrix Lapierre! This past season Lapierre finally managed to distance himself from his previous injuries. Visually, he appeared much better equipped to play a more physically engaged brand of hockey. He was sturdier, stronger and he looked like he had added serious lower body power. It had been a difficult season for everyone last year (COVID-19), but especially so for Lapierre. He earned the nickname "King of Quarantines" after spending 63 days in administrative quarantine during the season, split between the camp for Junior Team Canada, the pro camp in Washington and a return to Chicoutimi with his junior team.

It was an emotional season for the young man from Aylmer, Quebec too. A heartbreaking cut at Team Canada junior selection camp, a surprise invitation to the Capitals camp, a trade after the season (In the QMJHL), etc. His periods of isolation (quarantine) had to be difficult, and it did prevent him from finding consistency early on. But he got better over the year, finally living up to some of his hype. A highly skilled player, Lapierre has the talent to be a top six forward for the Capitals in a few seasons. He will play this year with the AB Titan and should be among the leading scorers in the QMJHL. He just needs another year without injuries. - BB

Alexander Alexeyev

Despite Alexeyev being a first round pick back in 2019 and leaving a very good impression at every level where he has played so far, somehow, he continues to fly under the radar and is rarely mentioned in the conversation as an elite level prospect. Playing on loan to the KHL to start last season, Alexeyev was quick to adjust to the KHL game again after playing in North America the previous four seasons (WHL and AHL). Alexeyev showed that he doesn't have a lot of weaknesses and was very good at finding the balance between the defensive responsibilities and supporting the attack offensively. When the KHL season ended, Alexeyev returned to the AHL a more confident offensive player, which was converted to improved offensive production.

While the Capitals plans are unclear for their bottom pairing this upcoming season, Alexeyev will have to beat out NHL veteran Trevor Van Riemsdyk or fellow prospect Martin Fehevary for a role. He is likely ready to play on the third pairing right away after a very successful 2020/21 season. His potential probably lies on the Capital’s second pairing in the future, where he can play a variety of roles and be a steady presence on the blueline. - VF

Martin Fehervary

A former second round selection by the Capitals in 2018, Fehervary has progressed very well since. The former captain of the Slovak World Junior Team, Fehervary took an unconventional road by playing out of Sweden for the majority of his junior career. However, since signing and coming to play in North America two seasons ago, Fehervary has established himself as one of Washington’s top prospects. In his first pro year, he actually got into a couple NHL games, including a few in the playoffs for the Capitals. Last season, he played strictly in the AHL, but played very well, improving his offensive production, while remaining one of Hershey’s best defensive players.

The 6’2, 203lbs defender is a rock in the defensive end. His defensive instincts are sound. He brings a physical element. His high-end mobility makes him a suffocating presence and someone who should be able to at least fill a shutdown role at the NHL level. However, Fehervary’s confidence in using his plus skating ability to start the breakout and his confidence in his puck handling abilities have grown considerably in the last calendar year. He appears primed for an NHL role as early as this season, but he will need to beat out veterans like Trevor Van Riemsdyk and Matt Irwin for a spot on the third pairing. Fehervary projects as a second pairing defensive anchor and a long time NHL defender. - BO

Aliaksei Protas

A year after a breakout campaign with the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL, hulking Belarussian forward Aliaksei Protas followed that up with a very strong performance in 2020/21. His 10 goals in the KHL for Dinamo Minsk were tied for the most by any U20 player in the top men’s league with Columbus first round pick Yegor Chinakhov. Following the KHL season, he joined Hershey of the AHL and performed admirably in a smaller sample size. Then to close out the year, he played for Belarus at the World Championships.

The 6’6, 215 lbs center is an absolute load to handle down low for opposing defenses, as he dominates the cycle game and works his way to the net. Not really your typical power forward, Protas relies more on his skill and puck protection ability to create in traffic. The key for him is to continue putting in the work to improve his skating ability. He will likely spend the entire upcoming season in the AHL, adjusting to the pace and strength of the pro game in North America. Protas projects as a middle six forward for Washington but will likely require several years of development before being ready for a full-time role. - BO

Garrett Pilon

Slow and steady wins the race. That saying certainly personifies Pilon’s professional development thus far in Washington’s system. The former WHL standout (and son to former NHL pugilist Rich Pilon) has slowly improved over the course of three seasons with Hershey of the AHL, finally breaking through as a top contributor last season. As a reward, Pilon was even given a small taste of NHL action. Now eligible for waivers this season, the Capitals will have a decision to make this training camp.

The highlight of Pilon’s game has always been the stocky center’s two-way play and awareness on the ice. A high-end playmaker, he has finally gained the confidence to be more creative at the AHL level and has learned how to control the pace from the middle, becoming a difficult player to separate from the puck. The finer points to his game, like his faceoff ability, strong neutral zone play, and positional versatility, make him a great candidate to earn a depth role on the Capitals this season. Given his progression, it seems unlikely that the Caps would risk sending him through waivers unless he really struggles at training camp. His upside may not be significant, but he does have the potential to be a high-end checking line player or depth option moving forward. - BO

Vincent Iorio

A 6’3, right shot defender, Iorio was a rock for a strong Brandon Wheat Kings team this past season. A late born ‘02, Iorio emerged as an all-situations, minute-cruncher for Brandon, anchoring the second pair behind New York Rangers first round pick Braden Schneider. Iorio is the modern day shut down defender, blending size, mobility, and physicality to stymie attackers. Using his strong four-way quickness, Iorio is aggressive in defending transitional attacks, stepping up early to angle attackers off, always minding a tight gap. Iorio is also a highly intelligent defender who makes a good outlet pass and possesses good awareness at both ends of the ice. This is what allows him to excel at the WHL level in all situations.

That said, Iorio’s game does appear to have some limitations. His even strength production was pretty limited, with the majority of his points coming on the powerplay. He is at his best when he keeps things simple because he does not possess the creativity or hands to be a topflight puck mover. The Capitals are likely hoping that Iorio’s offensive skill set can continue to blossom with Brandon and that he can eventually become a really solid #4 defender for them in the future. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Brent Johnson

Johnson is a toolsy defender, who even likes to play rough, despite his clear size disadvantage. He throws his body around, gets involved in scrums regularly, and often defends with an ornery edge. That said, Johnson’s best strengths come in the offensive end. His speed allows him to drive the transition, and he looks impressive carrying the puck up the ice. He isn’t the type to engage very deep in the offensive zone, but can control play rather well from the point, with quick and accurate puck movement from high to low, or a solid shot. Even though he comes across as an offensive-minded defender, he is not absent in his own zone, and played a regular shorthanded role for the Stampede of the USHL last year.

There is a valid question of how effective he can remain at higher levels against more uniformly bigger and stronger players, but Johnson has a dynamic element that is worth gambling on, especially if his lack of a high-level resume means he will have more to show in the coming years, which will include time playing collegiately for North Dakota. He will look to bounce back this year as a freshman after shoulder surgery ended his season in 2021. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Kody Clark

When the Capitals took Kody, the son of Toronto Maple Leafs legend Wendell Clark, in the second round in 2018, the hope was that he could develop into an elite power forward not all that dissimilar from their very own Tom Wilson. Unfortunately, the offensive side of things has been fairly slow to develop. Clark never reached the point per game mark in the OHL before graduating to the AHL and his first pro season was fairly underwhelming. However, Clark’s sophomore effort last year did show marked improvement from an offensive perspective, suggesting that there could be hope yet for him to become an NHL player.

An intense physical competitor, Clark is a human missile on the forecheck. He knows his role on the ice is to cause havoc by driving the net and by forcing turnovers on the opponent’s side of the ice. While Clark is not likely to be a Tom Wilson type, he could still be a serviceable checking line player for the Capitals in a couple of seasons. Washington will be looking for Clark to continue to show improvement offensively this season in the AHL before earning a look the following year (when he is waivers eligible in 2022/23). - BO

Brett Leason

It’s been quite the meteoric rise for Leason, who was passed over twice in the NHL draft before his skating caught up to the rest of his game and he exploded on the scene in 2018-19 with a monster season that included a point-per-game stint at the world junior under-20 tournament. This resulted in Leason hearing his name called in the second round of the draft by the Washington Capitals. Since then, while the pandemic has perhaps stalled the development of many other prospects around him, Leason has continued to blossom, with two successful seasons in the AHL with the Hershey Bears. Last year was another step forward, with 20 points in 33 games for the big winger.

Leason brings size, scoring punch and the motor of a player half a foot shorter. His skating continues to improve, and his hockey sense allows him to be effective with or without the puck. He uses his massive frame well and distributes the puck well, to go with an NHL-calibre shot. He could stand to be even more physical and continue to improve his first three steps. Already 22-years-old, it would be easy to discount Leason as a potential middle-six winger at best in the NHL, but he continues to make inroads and has beaten the odds thus far. With a fairly thin prospect cupboard in front of him, it’s not a stretch to think Leason could see a cup of coffee in the NHL this upcoming season, if the stars align. - AS

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby

The upside may not be incredibly high, but Jonsson-Fjallby’s talents as a forechecker and penalty killer can be used at the NHL level. After parts of three seasons at the AHL level, the time is now for the Swedish spark plug to earn a fourth line role for the Capitals this season.

Mitchell Gibson

A former fourth round pick, Gibson had a solid freshman season for Harvard two seasons ago, establishing himself as the program’s starter. However, due to the pandemic, Harvard did not play last season, leaving Gibson with nowhere to play. He will look to get his development back on track this season as he re-assumes the starter’s role on what should be a strong Crimson team.

Garin Bjorklund

Bjorklund had an excellent post draft season with Medicine Hat (WHL) last year, as he emerged as one of the top netminders in Western Canada. Bjorklund has the skill set to be an NHL netminder and worked hard to correct some technical flaws to become a more consistent performer. He should be a contender for the WHL’s goaltender of the year this season.

Martin Has

The plan for Has was to have him play a full season in the OHL last year, after a partial year prior to that. But the pandemic had other plans and as such, Has played sparingly outside of a few international appearances for the Czech Republic (including the World Juniors). The stay-at-home defender can be an asset in the defensive end because of his strong transitional defensive ability, however his play with the puck needs to improve. His playing location this season remains a mystery, especially since he has not yet been signed by the Capitals.

Beck Malenstyn

The previous season was not a good one for the competitive and physical, former WHL winger. An achilles tear ended his season before it began and has even put the start of this season in jeopardy. Malenstyn will look to bounce back strong at some point with Hershey. He still possesses the potential to be an impact fourth liner for the Caps.

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Washington Capitals Top 20 Prospects

Rachel Howard — Wed, 23 Dec 2020 22:30:38 +0000

McKeen's Top 20 Washington Capitals prospects for the 2020-21 season. You can read an organizational assessment prior to the draft in Ryan Wagman's article found here. Following the draft we provided a review on each teams performance based on our rankings found here.

Connor McMichael, C (25^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Few 2019 draft selections progressed as well as McMichael did this past season with London, where he went from a strong complimentary piece to the lifeblood through which the offense flowed. A strong skater, he showed much more confidence when carrying the puck, allowing him to dominate touches. He can beat you in transition because of his speed and he can beat you down low because of how well he protects the puck and how sound his decision making is. We also saw a huge improvement in his shot, especially his powerful wrist shot, and he uses different shooting angles to deceive goaltenders. McMichael also showed improved strength away from the puck, and paired with his high-end IQ, is now a strong two-way presence. Originally projecting as a winger in the NHL, he has shown enough to alter this belief. He is a very versatile player. Given the improvements he made last year, it is not impossible to see him playing in the NHL next year with the Capitals. He already skates well enough for the NHL. At this point, his projection is that of a two-way, goal scoring forward who can play inside the first two lines. – BO

Hendrix Lapierre, C (22^nd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Lapierre battled consistency and injury issues all season, but of his high-end IQ and skill combination make him a potential steal. Originally thought to a concussion victim, it was later found to be a cervical spine issue. He has a very dynamic skill level and can make the spectacular look easy. He is smooth with the puck in transition and is a precise, pass-first center. He is a strong skater, who gets separation through excellent acceleration. He can work well along the wall and behind the net, with crisp turns, making him elusive in coverage. Lapierre is also a terrific two-way player who excels in all three zones because of his high-end hockey IQ. He uses anticipation and a quick stick to force turnovers on the backcheck, which he excels at transitioning the other way. He needs to take a step forward as a goal scorer. His game can be too predictable at times and to keep the opposition on their toes, he could stand to become a more well-rounded offensive player, shooting more often. Even despite a poor year, his potential remains high as a two-way, all situations center who can make his teammates better players. – BO

Alexander Alexeyev, D (31^st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Alexeyev brings size (6-4”) and hockey IQ to the Washington organization. Making the jump from the WHL, he managed to make it through his first professional season with no serious injuries despite his shaky health track record. He struggled early in the beginning of the season to adjust to the pace of the AHL, but as the season went along his confidence grew and the skills that got him drafted began to show themselves, particularly in the form of his passing ability and offensive zone positioning. Alexeyev will need to demonstrate better conditioning when the next season gets underway to remain consistent throughout the full 60 minutes and he will need to find another gear to add more speed to his game. Numerous times last season opponents blew past him when driving the net and he will need to improve at keeping them to the outside. As he continues to develop and his game matures, there is little doubt that he has the overall ability to become a top pairing defenseman at the NHL level, it is simply a matter of opportunity and Alexeyev staying healthy, as he cannot sustain another serious injury without suffering major career setbacks. – SC

Martin Fehervary, D (46^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 3)

Tight competition between Fehervary and fellow Hershey Bears roommate and first round pick Alexander Alexeyev has been good for Fehervary’s development, pushing him hard in order to see results. The results of that developmental push have been evident as the lanky Slovakian has managed to impress in his rookie North American professional season, often using his tremendous skating to sail past opponents and earn scoring opportunities. He is the complete package as a future NHL defenseman; he plays a physical and rough game, can skate, carry the puck, and his defensive zone coverage is good. The only downsides come in the form of patience, passing, and decision making with the puck. He is not as well known for his passing abilities as he is for his skating and skill level and at times it was evident this past season with turnovers and missed important passes that oftentimes led to icings or offsides. Fehervary will need to tighten up his passing and work on how he moves the puck as well as when he moves it in order to be able to make the right choices in the NHL. - SC

Aliaksei Protas, C (91^st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 4)

Protas has a very solid offensive toolkit. His unique size and frame enable him to be an elite puck protector. He can pace the game to his level and allow plays to develop. He is able to shed defenders and maintain control just a half step longer than most which dovetails perfectly with his playmaking and passing. He has excellent vision and can play the half-wall or behind the net equally comfortably. He has a deft touch and can make highlight reel passes due to his soft hands and a great ability to hit teammates in stride. His shot is above average and enables him to always be a dual threat to defend. His willingness to shoot the puck has helped his offensive game blossom. The knock on Protas was always his cumbersome footwork and lack of pace, but he has made some serious strides in that part of his game as well. He still needs to work on his overall defensive commitment and has struggled in the faceoff dot but those have improved with coaching. He is still a long-term project but the potential upside here is much higher than most expected in his draft year. - VG

Garrett Pilon, C (87^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 5)

Standing out in the NHL will always be hard due to Pilon’s style of play. A hard-working grinder who can skate and who keeps his feet moving at all times, there is nothing particular that stands out about the way that he plays. To get too the next level, he will have to broaden his play, bettering his offensive production and puck possession skills next season. A top penalty killer using speed and determination, Pilon works hard every shift but at the next level it is about putting all of those things together and he will have to have a better, more cohesive and consistent game to earn a bottom six spot on the NHL club. He is a passionate player, and he will also need to keep his temper and frustration in check to avoid spending more time in the box than on the ice. He will be a big-league asset soon enough should he continue to put his overall game together and mature. - SC

Brian Pinho, C (174^th overall, 2013. Previous ranking: 6)

Pinho is the flashy forward with good puckhandling skills that every team has or needs. For a sixth-round selection, he has taken the long route for his development, finally coming into his own this past season, finishing top in prospect points. For his performance with the Hershey Bears, Pinho earned a spot on the Washington Capitals playoff roster and managed to also make his debut suiting up for two playoff games. Throughout the season, he was a clutch player for Hershey, often earning overtime marker and tying goals. He dominates in the offensive zone and often times earns breakaways on turnovers and long passes. That being said, he needs to work on bringing that competitive level to every game and on further developing his defensive play. With the recent call up to the Capitals, Pinho may have earned his chance at next season’s roster as a member of the bottom six. - SC

Kody Clark, RW (47^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 7)

After a decent season with the OHL Ottawa 67’s, Clark swung his talents over to the AHL’s Hershey Bears for his rookie professional season. He quickly realized that the next level would not be as smooth sailing as major junior and he was a scratch for majority of the first half of the season. Following in father Wendel’s footsteps, Clark brings the grit and offensive prowess to a mildly physical Hershey roster, but that is where his talents stop until he finds a way to keep up at the AHL pace. He is a strong skater but his puck possession was simply not there last season and he will have to find a way to get to the net if he wants to even be considered as a top priority call up option. Serving more time in the penalty box than often necessary, Clark will have to prove himself as a skilled player first more than anything in terms of next season and working his way towards a call up. He has the potential and skill to play as a bottom six forward in the NHL, but he still has a lot of learning to go before that will happen. - SC

Brett Leason, RW (56^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 8)

For a player who was passed over two years in a row in the draft, Leason has managed to defeat the odds, becoming a second-round pick for the Capitals. He has the size to play and to stay safe at the next level, proving so during his rookie season with AHL Hershey, however speed and skill is another thing. This is where the Washington offensive prospect structure starts to thin out and with Hershey last season, Leason failed to mark more than five goals, a disappointing drop from the 36 goals he scored in major junior the year before to being a healthy scratch for Hershey towards the season’s end. Leason will have to find another gear and start playing up at a professional level, as right now he is simply not fast enough to cut it and if he cannot find another gear it will be uncertain if he will ever be given a chance with the Washington Capitals as a bottom six. - SC

Lucas Johansen, D (28^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 9)

With an expired contract and only nine games played this past season, it is unsure as to where Johansen will be playing next season. It is assumed the Capitals will re-sign him; however he has not had the best of progressions in the organization as his play has gotten worse over the course of his three seasons with the Hershey Bears. As a first-round pick, Johansen needs to perform better, he has offered little in the way of point production and the quantity of turnovers he gives up is just bad. Having missed the bulk of the season with a leg injury, Johansen will need to show that he spent the time off well to come back better than ever to prove to Capitals management that he is deserving of a call up at least. As the time goes by, the Capitals are drafting more and more high-quality defensemen and Johansen’s name is getting further and further down their organizational depth list. It is now or never to prove that his passing, hockey IQ, and composure with the puck are good enough for a bottom four spot in Washington’s lineup. - SC

Vitek Vanecek, G (39^th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 10)

For a Washington Capitals organization which may be missing a goaltender next season with the expiring contract of incumbent starter Braden Holtby, it means that the young prospects in the system are getting their much-awaited shot. Although the current future may be Ilya Samsonov, recent backup and first call up Vitek Vanecek has the talent and hockey IQ to read NHL speed plays and the focus to get him to the next level. With a tight goaltender race, Vanecek will have to show his composure every time he gets a chance to be up with the Capitals. His quick reflexes and athleticism in the net are what set him apart from his counterparts as he is very active and aggressive in his crease, he fights for positioning well, and sees plays with good vision. His rebound control could use a little work and his timing when playing the puck can sometimes be a worrisome issue, however the Capitals look to have a promising goaltender tandem for the future as Vanecek could manage the starting role just as well as Samsonov. - SC

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, LW (147^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 11)

Despite starting his North American professional career off a little shaky, including a return trip to Sweden to finish the season, Jonsson-Fjallby has redeemed himself this past season, completing the full season in North America, finishing with 23 points. It is clear to see that the winger has the speed and the offensive hockey ability to make an impact at the next level when it comes to getting to the net and putting forth the necessary individual effort. That being said, he lacks instincts as a two-way player and in the defensive end, and there is little else to be said about his giveaways and ill-advised passes in the neutral zone and on breakouts. Jonsson-Fjallby is a difficult prospect to talk about because he has NHL-level skills, but his hockey sense is poor and hard to overlook. With any luck, he will find himself in a Capitals jersey within the next season as a first choice call up to a bottom six position. - SC

Damien Riat, LW (117^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 12)

While some in the hockey world have dismissed Switzerland as a nation worth heavily scouting, the Capitals have always been believers. Look at NHLer Jonas Siegenthaler, their second-round pick in 2015, now an established NHLer. Look at Tobias Geisser, their first selection in 2017, albeit in the 4^th round. And look at Riat, taking in between the two blueliners, who signed an entry level deal with the Capitals in March after five successful seasons in the NLA. A speedy winger with intriguing puck skills, he has been the top scorer in his age cohort ever since being overshadowed by a young Auston Matthews in 2015-16, until finally being overtaken again last year. For an organization that rarely drafts out of Europe, Riat has a chance to convince the Capitals to change their scouting direction once more if he adapts well to the North American game this year. - RW

Oskar Magnusson, LW (211^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

A top scorer as a youth, Magnusson took off in his second season in SuperElit, finishing second in the league in scoring among all U18 players, behind only Carolina draft pick Zion Nybeck. Magnusson has a fine collection of offensive tools and can contribute as both a finisher as well as a playmaker. He has good instincts for the game and reads the play well, helping him to maximize his physical tools. On the other hand, he is very physically underdeveloped, and his skating is average at best. He is actually fairly explosive on his feet, but his strides are short, causing him to burn out too much energy too quickly. He earned a four game call up to Malmo’s senior side last year and is expected to have a chance to compete for a regular SHL role this season. Before even thinking of a move to North America, he will have to prove that his offense-first game can succeed against men at home in Sweden. – RW

Bobby Nardella, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Apr. 5, 2019. Previous ranking: 14)

At 5-9” Nardella is certainly undersized as defenseman go in professional hockey, however, do not be fooled as this crafty and highly offensive defenseman is a threat no matter where he is on the ice. He finished seventh on the Bears in points and tops for defenseman this past season, his rookie professional campaign. Having been trusted for a role on the Bears’ top powerplay unit, Nardella clearly shows his maturity and that he is focused enough to manage high pressure situations and smart enough to make the right plays. He also has the skill as a top-level skater and puckhandler to get to the net for scoring opportunities which can make him an asset in today’s game. The major downside is size and if the Capitals can get past that, rest assured that Nardella has the potential to be a top four pairing defenseman. The delay in cracking the Washington lineup simply comes from defensive depth and prospect hierarchy politics, because as a player Nardella offers nothing but good things to a team. - SC

Martin Hugo Has, D (153^rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 15)

A late arrival to the OHL made Has a bit of a mystery and a difficult player to evaluate. Some may wonder about why he only played a single game for the North Bay Battalion before being moved to Guelph. The answer is because the OHL has a rule that imports cannot be traded until they play at least one game for the drafting team. In Guelph, Has was eased into a top four role for the Storm, playing as a stay at home defender with partner Daniil Chayka (a top 2021 eligible player). At 6-4”, he certainly has good length and exhibits good gap control when containing the transition game of the opposition. As an offensive player, we saw Has struggle at times with his decision making and the pace of play in the OHL. It remains to be seen just how much potential he has as an NHL prospect moving forward. Next year he will return to Guelph and will likely resume his partnership with Chayka. As he becomes more comfortable, we should get a better idea of the type of player he is and can become. – BO

Garin Bjorklund, G (179^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Playing as art of a platoon with Ottawa draft pick Mads Sogaard, Bjorklund didn’t have the kind of year that scouts hoped of him, as consistency issues plagued him in his intermittent starts. Part of that may have come from not playing consistently as part of a routine. He still has the size (6-2”) and quickness to be an NHL netminder and the potential to turn it around given more regular time between the pipes. To his credit, he tracks the play well and seems to have a solid grasp of the technical nuances of the position. A former first round pick in the WHL Bantam Draft, even in his struggles, he showed flashes of pro caliber ability, but was done in too often by juicy rebounds, and seeming to lose his composure after surrendering a bad goal. Reports of his commitment to the game are promising, and, even though he was outperformed last year on the whole by the Danish second round pick, more often than not, there was little to separate the two performance-wise, and there may be a lot of room for growth in this profile. – BO

Mitchell Gibson, G (124^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 17)

If we want to search for rays of hope with Bjorklund (#17), we need look no further than Gibson, who struggled badly in his first post draft season making the adjustment from the NAHL to the USHL. Moving on to Harvard, his performance improved by several grades. Given the chance to play regularly, he took the bulk of a time-share from senior Cameron Gornet and kept the Crimson in pretty much every game, something he could not say for his time with Central Illinois. Gibson is on the smaller side for a modern netminder but moves well and fights for every puck. He did a good job at limiting second chances and has a knack for puck play as well. Where concerns remain are in his ability to track the play through traffic, where his height works against him, as well as his propensity to lose the finer details of his technique in the crease. A second season like the last one with Harvard and he will rise up this list. - RW

Beck Malenstyn, LW (145^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 18)

Re-read everything written above about Garrett Pilon and just make him a winger instead of a center, and then lower the ceiling a fair bit. Considering how low we stated the ceiling was for Pilon, we are basically stating that Malenstyn projects as a replacement level player. His hands have promise, and he plays a hard and tough style of game, but it is hard to see him as more than an injury replacement callup. The simple fact is that his offensive contributions are meagre. Even in the WHL, he was a secondary scorer. Through two seasons in the AHL, he hasn’t exceeded 16 points, although, to be fair, he could have cracked 20 if last season wasn’t ended early due to the pandemic. He could have been a regular in the 1980s, but it is hard for players of his ilk to establish themselves in the NHL anymore, and we don’t see why Malenstyn will break that mold. - RW

Riley Sutter, RW (93^rd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: UR)

One of the few of the next generation of the Sutter family to still retain NHL hopes, Riley Sutter’s projection was stunted over the previous two injury-plagued seasons. He has always carried the grit and smarts of his father’s generation, but the knock on him, from the time of his draft year, has been his heavy feet. Now, with only 63 combined games played in the last two years, split between the WHL and AHL, his chances have taken a hit with the missed development time. We can give him a mulligan for his poor numbers in his abbreviated rookie pro season, as he has solid puck skills and reads the opposition well, but he can scarcely afford a repeat of the last two seasons. A return to health and improved performance will help Sutter re-ascend this list. Continued injuries can end his NHL hopes. He has the size and strength to play a bottom six role in the future, but he has a ways to go to achieve that goal. - RW

Washington Capitals 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 13:30:48 +0000

Many clubs in the Capitals’ position of always being in the hunt, always being buyers at the trade deadline, see their prospect stock stumble, mostly due to the combined effects of having fewer picks, picking later when they do make picks, and sometimes trading away still developing youth for the more reliable promise of tested veterans.

In many cases, teams supplement their prospect income with free agent signees, and Washington has been no exception, although to a lesser extent than many other teams, with only seven qualified having been brought into the organization – having been brought into professional hockey – as undrafted free agents. That said, the player’s inked by the Capitals off the free prospect market do not have the organizational impact that you see from free agents in other systems. While the two free agent collegians signed by Washington this year (Joe Snively from Yale and Bobby Nardella from Notre Dame) were considered for the top 20 list, none of the free agent signees ultimately featured in the list below.

Also incidentally not appearing anywhere in the top 20 below is a single product from the Capitals’ small draft class of 2017, when they did not select a single player prior to the fourth round.

The above factors would typically lead to a system that is among the bottom end of systems in the game, and while we have not yet scored out all systems as of this writing, and even without Chase Priskie, who would have likely been in the top six here were it not for his stated intentions to explore free agency after Washington’s right on him expire in mid-August as a college graduate, the Capitals have a decent system, buttressed by a top four who all profile to be top half of the NHL roster players.

The system, from the 30,000 foot view lacks for inspiration, but between minute munching, two-way defender Alexander Alexeyev, long-touted netminder Ilya Samsonov, who began to demonstrate the potential that had Capitals’ brass salivating for years in the second half of his season in North America, and their top two picks from the 2019 class, forward Connor McMichael and Brett Leason, there are four players here who could grow into future core pieces for a franchise that should reasonably expect to continue to contend for postseason glory.

What the system lacks, on the other hand, is the breadth and depth of the system that is also needed to ensure that a team can withstand the inevitable injuries that teams accrue over the course of a season. The AHL talent – at least those guys who will not be AHL rookies this year – has very few forwards who could be expected to play NHL roles yet, with the only young potential 2019-20 contributing players coming on the blueline. In fact, two of the following three players listed below after the aforementioned top three, and three of those in the 5-10 range are defensemen with at least one full season of AHL experience under their belts.

The moral here, if there is one, is that the Capitals have a better system than might be expected, but that the system may not be structured to help the NHL team as needed, depending on how those needs shake out. Expect their depth to be tested this year.

-Ryan Wagman

Washington Capitals goaltender Ilya Samsonov (Photo by Jaylynn Nash/Icon Sportswire)

1 Alexander Alexeyev, D (31^st overall, 2018. Last Year: 3) Alexeyev is a great story wrapped in a very good player who has all the tools to be a top four defender in the NHL. He has good size, skates very well, and has more snarl in his game then most give him credit for. Couple all that with a defender who is an excellent passer both in his own zone as well as when quarterbacking a powerplay, and he shows real promise. He has had some injury trouble the past couple of seasons and had a tragic loss as his mother passed away mid-season in his draft year. Despite so many ups and downs he has been one of the top defenders in the WHL since his arrival from Russia. He projects as playing both sides of special teams although maybe on second units and he could be an very solid second pairing defender. - VG

2 Ilya Samsonov, G (22^nd overall, 2015. Last Year: 1) Having had good numbers in the KHL, Samsonov was destined to be a top goaltender in North America, however despite his cool demeanor, depending on the outcome of a play he can get easily frustrated and distracted. His playoff performance with AHL Hershey was less than desirable and he seemed to lack the maturity to keep his focus into the postseason. Samsonov is a very intense, high pressure goaltender and he has all the traits to be a starter in the NHL. It will be a matter of time and perhaps a chance at a better playoff run to build his confidence up before we see him make the leap to starting more than a game or two with Washington. There is no doubt that with his tracking abilities and poise Samsonov will see another call up to the NHL again this season and hopefully for a longer time frame in order to further his NHL experience. - SC

3 Connor McMichael, C (25^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) McMichael was one of the most consistent performers for the London Knights this past season, despite being in his NHL draft year. His hockey IQ is his best asset as he is such an intelligent player in the offensive zone. He is also a great skater, which he uses in combination with his vision and anticipation to find those soft spots in the opposing defense. As a shoot first center, McMichael’s ability to create for his linemates will need to improve should he want to stick down the middle moving forward. A lot of that comes from a need to play with more intensity, especially with the puck on his stick. He needs to attack the middle of the ice with more ferocity. While scouts are unsure as to whether McMichael is a center or wing in the future, he profiles as a strong two-way middle six forward who can provide versatility and goal scoring to the Capitals in the future. - BO

4 Brett Leason, RW (56^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Leason’s skating has improved by leaps and bounds since his first time through the draft. He is now an average skater but it is now enough to enable his many other skills to shine through now that he can keep up with play. He is an underrated passer with good instincts in the offensive zone. He is a monster on the cycle game and below the dots where he can tire out opponents forcing them to chase the game. His shot is lethal and he is an excellent net front presence as he battles and keeps his skill free to tip pucks or reach loose pucks. If the scoring doesn’t translate he can still be an effective energy guy that can tilt the ice and generate offensive zone time. At his best he could be a power forward with 20-25 goal potential. -VG

5 Martin Fehervary, D (46^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 6) An aggressive import from Slovakia, Fehervary played full time in the SHL last season, in his last year qualifying for junior hockey. He finished the season ranked sixth on HV71 in ice time. All told, he had a good, but not great, season. He played in his customary aggressive style, with quick skating, physicality, and good reach. His game was well suited to the SHL level and he had mostly good underlying numbers. The one area where his stats were not as strong was in his on-ice save percentage. While that rate is usually luck-related, with only a single season of data, it is hard to tell for sure. He still has NHL potential, with the look of a third pairing blueliner. His skating, reach and aggressiveness will becoming a strong defensive defender. He should be playing n North America next season, most likely in the AHL, which will go a long way in pushing his development along. - JH

6 Jonas Siegenthaler, D (57^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 12) Siegenthaler really stepped up at the end of last season and managed a good enough performance as a call up to the Capitals to earn a spot as one of their starters for this coming season. He is a strong and smooth skating defenseman who has a very high hockey IQ which makes him an asset to any team. As a bottom pairing defender with the Capitals to start this season, it will be up to Siegenthaler to work his way up the ladder a little more. An added bonus is his playoff experience from last season, having already proved himself in the most high pressure of situations. It should be a relatively easy transition from training camp into NHL mode this season with fewer nerves to worry about. It is safe to say that Siegenthaler’s time in the AHL is done if he can clock his first full season with the Capitals in 2019-20. - SC

7 Lucas Johansen, D (28^th overall, 2016, Last Year: 2) It is debatable whether Johansen is a good skater. His crossovers and edgework are fine but he lacks consistency with his speed in-game. If he can continuously maintain an urgency to his game and avoid being caught standing still then he will be on the right track to earning his first call up to the Capitals next season. For now, he will remain at the AHL level with the Bears until he finds the maturity in his game to take him to the next level. As a first rounder in 2016, Johansen has the skill to play the NHL and the potential to be a second pairing defenseman but he is still only scratching the surface with his development. Johansen will most likely be relegated to another two seasons in the AHL before being in position to gain a full time roster spot with the Capitals. - SC

8 Aliaksei Protas, C (91^stoverall, 2017. Last Year: IE) Protas is a monster on the ice. His presence is as noticeable as his shadow. He needs to work on his feet as he is slow and cumbersome as he moves around the rink. That said, he has pretty good puck skills and is a very deft passer. He is able to create from the halfwall or from behind the net where he can hold on to the puck for longer than most. He uses his size very effectively although his overall game is not especially physical. He gained more scouting notoriety as he upped his offensive game drastically in the WHL playoffs, playing a key role in pushing the Raiders to a WHL championship. If he can improve his skating stride there is some potential there. - VG

9 Riley Sutter, RW (93^rd overall, 2018. Last Year: 9) Riley is the latest chapter in the Sutter family dynasty with the Capitals selecting him in the third round of the 2018 draft. He was on a good pace last year, with 41 points through 38 games, before suffering a severe lower body injury that cost him the remainder of the regular season (although he managed to return for the end of Everett’s postseason run, as well as a cameo with AHL Hershey in their playoffs). Sutter is a solid two way forward with good size and smarts. He is versatile and can play either center or on the wing, has a nose for the net, and an above average shot. He projects to be a bottom six forward at the highest level and will most likely be used in checking roles as he moves up. As he turns 20 in October, he could still return to Everett for another season, but the ods suggest he will spend next season in the AHL. - KO

10 Connor Hobbs, D (143^rd overall, 2015. Last Year: 4) Hobbs is a great team player and a solid passer compiling 15 assists over the course of the season. He is not the smoothest of defensemen and may seem somewhat scrambly but he gets the job done. Although he plays a more gritty and passionate game than other defensemen on this list, his maturity on the ice is what will carry him to the next level. His positioning is good and he is dynamic and capable of playing an offensive role which only adds to his value. Hobbs plays with vibrant energy and his progression with the Capitals organization has been good and will only get better should he stay focused. That being said, expect him to play another full year in the AHL before earning a call up. The unorthodox, late blooming defenseman has the potential to be a Tory Krug type of defender, but will need another full year in the AHL to come into his own. - SC

11 Kody Clark, RW (47^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 13) One would expect the son of former NHL’er Wendell Clark to be quite the physical aggressor and that expectation happens to be a correct one. Kody Clark is an intense competitor who is very active on the forecheck and in puck pursuit. He also has great lower body strength which makes him difficult to separate from the puck as he works the wall and prolongs possession for his more skilled linemates. There are some limitations to Clark’s offensive game and subsequently his offensive ceiling. His puck skill, creativity, goal scoring instincts, hands, and vision would all have to be classified as average. Likely the key to Clark’s development moving forward will be the development of his defensive game. This will determine whether he becomes more than just a fourth line agitator and energy player. -BO

12 Colby Williams, D (173^rd overall, 2015. Last Year: Not ranked) Among defensemen in the Washington system, Williams is on the smaller end but that does not stop him from making smart plays. He plays a physical game, is strong on the boards and does well at keeping the puck on his stick. His shot production and offensive play needs to improve a little more before he can be considered for a call up to the NHL. He is a mature enough player to earn the call and he plays with enough determination and control that he would be a solid addition to the Capitals’ roster. It is hard to estimate at this point whether or not Williams will play another full year with the Hershey Bears or be sent up for a few games. If he checks off every area of development, he could emerge on a third pairing in time. - SC

13 Shane Gersich, C (134^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 5) Gersich is a high energy and entertaining forward to watch and having already won the Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018 he has high pressure experience with the big club under his belt already. Unfortunately however, Gersich fell short this season with Hershey as he did not quite live up to expectations. Gersich is a very fast and skilled player with a great set of hands but these skills were lost as he adjusted to the pace of his first professional season while making the jump from NCAA. Gersich had a great development camp and it is without question that he will be better adjusted and prepared this coming season when he starts with Hershey. It is well known that the Capitals have a strong forward lineup but a spot on the Capitals’ roster is not too far away for Gersich as he is certainly dynamic, aggressive and skilled enough to be a bottom six forward once he gets the call. - SC

14 Vitek Vanecek, G (39^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 14) Vanecek is a tricky case with the Washington Capitals in terms of goaltenders in their system as they have a lot of goaltending talent and it is quite a competitive system in terms of skill. On the smaller end of the standard goaltender size spectrum, Vanecek moves well, has good vision and keeps rebounds low which are all things that make him a contender for a spot on the Capitals. Last season, Vanecek and Ilya Samsonov nearly split the starts evenly. Vanecek finished in the top 20 in the AHL for his goals against average which is a testament to his athleticism. His temperament may be stable enough for an NHL club however consistency is an issue and he needs to work on being more stable in net if he wants to earn a spot as a backup goaltender in the future. - SC

15 Eric Florchuk, C (217^th overall, 2018. Last Year: Not ranked) Florchuk has been a mixed bag this past season but he has some offensive skills and good hockey IQ. He is a pass first player who makes smart plays in all three zones. He needs to add some strength to continue to develop into his pro-sized frame. He is a responsible two-way player who back checks hard and gets in on his forecheck well. He projects as a bottom six forward that helps on the penalty kill and contributes to an overall team game. While not the most exciting or high skilled forward in the system, he looks like great value for literally the final pick of the 2018 draft.- VG

16 Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, LW (147^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 7) When he is at his best, Jonsson-Fjallby is a highly energetic and quick player to play with and tough to keep up when paired against. His speed makes him a force to be reckoned with and his hockey IQ has improved drastically in the last year. He has become a smart and reliable two way player, whereas once his defensive game was insubstantial. His backwards skating is weak and his consistency and ability to read the play needs to drastically improve. Jonsson-Fjallby still has the potential to be a bottom six forward but first he needs to complete a full season in North America - last season did not go as planned and he returned back home to play with Djurgardens in the Swedish Hockey League - and prove that he has made a proper adjustment to the ice size and style of North American professional hockey. - SC

17 Garrett Pilon, C (87^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 17) Pilon is a hard working forward capable of winning battles, allowing for good puck possession. He is dynamic and has a good head on his shoulders where playmaking is concerned. He creates offensive opportunities and passing is certainly a strength of his with his goal/assist ratio only proving that fact. He is a clean, but physical player who gets well into the tough spots and adds notable pressure to create turnovers. However, good two way players are a valuable commodity and Pilon needs to find an extra gear and find a way to keep up the tempo in all zones and not just the offensive end to move to the next level. His level of comfort moving from the Everett Silvertips of the WHL to the AHL has been shifted somewhat and it will be up to him to manage his transition better in order to be noticed as a potential bottom six center with Washington. - SC

18 Damien Riat, LW (117^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 11) Last season, Riat left his childhood team of Geneve-Servette for NLA competitor Biel-Bienne, and there was some hope that the fresh start would allow him to take that next step in his development as a prospect. And while he had a decent season with his new team, Riat did not take any such steps. His point production barely budged (from 24 to 25 points in an equal number of games) and according to first-hand accounts, the skilled winger didn’t look any better in producing the way either. He is still an agitating winger whose feet are as quick as his hands, but with his NLA contract expiring this summer, this will be a critical year for him to show that his greasy game would be worth an ELC from the Capitals. - RW

19 Beck Malenstyn, LW (145^th overall, 2016. Last Year: Not ranked) Last season was rough for Malenstyn and presumably not how he expected to start off his professional career. With only a meager 16 points throughout 74 games, the regular season was disappointing. He started to pick up steam as he hit the playoffs only for Hershey to be eliminated, killing his momentum. It is optimistic to say that he will need a confidence boost next season in order for him to be able to showcase his skills better. When on his game, Malenstyn is a natural goal scorer and great at gaining puck possession, but he will have to have a much better showing in order to prove to Washington that he still has NHL upside. With his shot and natural scoring ability, he will have to find the back of the net more than just 7 times next season to reach even ensure that he can remain in the AHL long term. - SC

20 Martin Hugo Has, D (153^rd overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) The Capitals selected the towering Czech defenseman in the fifth round of the 2019 draft. Has spent the past two seasons with Tappara U20 and unless he makes the Liiga team this year, it is reasonable to think that he will stay at the U20 level. His shooting ability stands out, with a wrist shot that is hard and accurate, while his slap shot features a lot of power and a good wind up. He also has a knack for getting shots through on the net. His other attributes project to be more around average and the jury is still out on whether he has enough upside to play a significant role in the NHL at his maturation. His acceleration and overall mobility need work and although he shows promise in his defensive and physical games, there is room for improvement in those areas as well. – MB

State of the CHL: The Western Hockey League

Vince Gibbons — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 16:45:59 +0000

The ebbs and flows of Junior hockey is part of what makes each season so interesting and entertaining. Powerhouse programs must reset every couple of years and out of those ashes new teams move to take over the league and dominate the game. This year in the WHL is no different with a couple of teams really taking steps forward with a good shot at becoming the WHL Champions and Memorial Cup Contenders. With the trade deadline recently passing (and what a wild ride that was this season), the rosters have stabilized and these will be the teams going forward.

Moose Jaw and Swift Current have taken the league by storm this year as they battle for home ice advantage throughout the playoffs. Their division also boasts a Brandon Wheat Kings team that has been in and out of the CHL top 10 standing all year as well as the 100^th Memorial Cup hosts Regina Pats so game in and game out there has been highly competitive hockey, for critical points in the standings. Out in the West things are as competitive as ever with Everett, Portland, Kelowna and Victoria all within 4 points of each other at the top of the Western Conference. Everett continues to impress league-wide, with a sound defensive game and high end goaltending and solid team game. The other top teams of the East are sporting high end offensive talents like Cody Glass (Por), Skyler McKenzie (Por), Matthew Phillips (Vic), Kole Lind (Kel), and Dillion Dube (Kel) who are all having excellent seasons having been previously drafted into the NHL.

The Eastern Conference:

East Division GP-W-L-OTL-SOL-PTS

Moose Jaw Warriors 48-38-7-1-2-79

Jayden Halbgewachs. Photo by Marc Smith

Moose Jaw has been an offensive dynamo all season and at the trade deadline were able to add pieces that will help stabilize the back end and the defensive game. The scoring is being led by two 20 year olds in Brayden Burke (Unsigned) and Jayden Halbgewach (signed SJS) who are sitting one and two in the WHL in scoring. These two might not even be the most offensive players on the team as Brett Howden missed 24 games and has only lately seemed to be hitting his stride. At the deadline Moose Jaw addressed their biggest needs by grabbing a big stay out home defenseman in Brandon Schuldhaus from Red Deer as well as top scoring defenseman and recent World Juniors Gold Medalist Kale Clague (LAK 2016) from Brandon. His dynamic puck moving skills should only enhance this team’s offensive prowess. The largest contribution from a draft eligible player has to have come from Jett Woo. He has been a consistent defender in all situations showing a strong competitive fire in his own zone. He isn’t a dynamic player but more of a jack of all trades defender who can chip in offensively while playing steady responsible minutes. This team has set themselves up to come out of the East as they have the top offensive numbers averaging nearly 0.75 of a goal per game more than anyone else in the league. That coupled with the roughly 3.00 overall goals against average is a strong indicator of future success for this win-now franchise.

Swift Current Bronco’s 49-33-12-3-1-70

Tyler Steembergen, Swift Current Broncos. Photo courtesy of Swift Current Broncos,

Swift Current possess the most dynamic duo in the league this year and it really hasn’t even been that close. Tyler Steenbergen (Ari) is averaging over one goal per game with 36 in 34 games while averaging an assist per game at 35 assists in 34 games. Even more impressive is Aleksi Heponiemi (Fla) who has 89 points in just 37 games (2.41ppg). Throw in an amazing overage year for Glenn Gawdin (Cgy) and they were a one line team who were impressing night after night. Over the course of the season a number of key additions have been made to balance out the scoring and ensure the team kept rolling with a few key members at the WJC. Matteo Gennaro, Beck Malenstyn, and Giorgio Estephan now lead a more than capable supporting cast of forwards who will help the offense. On the defensive side Colby Sissons (NJ) has taken a big step offensively while maintaining his strong defensive play. Finally the addition of Stuart Skinner (Edm) as a true #1 has been a great add as they push for a seemingly inevitable clash with Moose Jaw in the Eastern Final. Riley Stotts (2018) had been their best draft eligible prospect but was moved out to add Gennaro and Malenstyn so they look pretty thin for 2000’s on the roster.

Brandon Wheat Kings 48-28-15-3-2-61

Stelios Matheos, Photo by Tim Smith, courtesy of the WHL

You can assess what Brandon thought of their chances of coming out of the East this year by what they did at the deadline. After being in and out of the CHL top 10 most of the season Brandon traded away their MVP and perhaps the top defenseman in the league this year to a divisional rival in Moose Jaw. Brandon had been paced by Ty Lewis and Stelio Mattheos up front both on pace for 40 goals seasons but that didn’t look to be enough to get past one let alone both of Moose Jaw and Swift Current. Brandon has a lot of young talent to build around going forward with Chase Hartje (2018) and Luka Burzan (2018) coming over in the deal for Clague, as well as the home grown Cole Reinhardt (2018). The nicest future piece could be the speedy play in Jonny Hooker (2020) who has not looked out of place in a his 31 games.

Regina Pats 49-24-20-5-0-53

As the Host of this year’s Memorial Cup Regina has a spot already booked in the tournament but has been adding veteran players throughout the season to ensure a strong showing. The team has been built around an impressive top pairing for Josh Mahura and Cale Fleury. Both log big minutes in all situations creating offense while shutting the door on some of the top forwards in the WHL. Mahura has taken another step this year and his offensive production has been amongst the league leaders from the back end. Cameron Hebig has adjusted quickly to add some 20 year old offense after a slow offensive starts to the season for Nick Henry (Col) and Jake Leschyshyn (VGK). Sam Steel (Ana) is really the straw that stirs the drink for this team offensively as he averages over 1.3 ppg heading into the last 20 games of the season. This team is poised to be the top wild card which is a pretty favorable outcome heading out of the division and avoiding the top three teams in the conference. Despite trading away a lot of youth to keep the team strong for a host season the club have managed to keep Emil Oksanen (2018) on the roster through the deadline. He is a fast, offensive minded right shot winger who is averaging just under a point per game while looking to be drafted in his second year of eligibility.

Saskatoon Blades 48-23-22-2-1-49

Saskatoon will likely make the playoffs as the Central Division is really struggling to produce anything that resembles a challenge for the Wild card. Saskatoon has to be pleased with the development of Eric Florchuk (2018) and Chase Wouters (2018) who have both been solid contributors. While neither looks to be a high end offensive talent at the pro level both have shown themselves to be effective secondary producers in junior. Throw in the development of Kirby Dach (2019) and Saskatoon looks ready to take over the division as some of these teams start to age out of their current rosters.

Prince Albert Raiders 47-18-20-7-2-45

As the division basement dwellers standing suggests they are weaker than all the previously mentioned teams. That said they likely would make the playoffs as a 2 or 3 seed in the Central division. The team plays a structured game and while there aren’t big name drafted players Vojtech Budik (Buf) has acquitted himself well on the back end. The real jewel of Prince Albert’s roster is Cole Fonstand (2018) who leads all WHL draft eligible players in primary points with 34 in 47 games. Overall he averages .98 points per game and is able to drive offense despite being undersized on a team that doesn’t have a ton of high end support for him.

Central Division GP-W-L-OTL-SOL-PTS

Medicine Hat Tigers 48-24-19-5-0-53

The Tigers lead the Central division by a pretty wide margin in what could be the worst division in the CHL this season. The team is led in all respects by David Quenneville (NYI) who drives play with his excellent transition game and is leading the WHL in defensive scoring this year with 53 points. Medicine Hat has a pretty young team that is gaining confidence with each victory this year. That youth is led by 2018 draft eligible Ryan Chyzowski, who has good size and can play in all three zones. He has earned power play time in the second half of the season which should help improve his production (15G, 17A) as we close out the season.

Lethbridge Hurricanes 47-22-21-4-0-48

Lethbridge has been a team in flux. Earlier in the season they seemed to be making a push acquiring Lane Zablocki (Det) from Red Deer but then at the deadline shipped him to Victoria to help them make a push. Once the decision to move out some veterans had been made they moved major assets in Stuart Skinner (Edm) and Giorgio Estephan to bring back some youth and draft picks. In a division where a win one lose one record pulls you ahead for a playoff spot the team is not a serious contender to oust any of the power house teams in the Eastern division. Through all this transition one thing has been a constant; undersized defender Calen Addison (2018) has been driving offensive chances and using his great vision and playmaking to produce points at a very high level (G-7-A-33-PTS-40).

Kooteney ICE 47-21-23-3-0-45

Kooteney has been in the basement of this division since the departure of Sam Reinhart (Buf) to the NHL. This current incarnation’s place in the standings is more the rest of the division getting worse than it is of team gaining legitimacy as a force in the Central. The most impressive piece on this roster is 16 year old Peyton Krebs (2019) who looks every bit the part of a first overall pick from the 2016 Bantam Draft. He is near a point per game playing in all situations and is second on the team scoring in his Draft -1 year, very impressive.

Calgary Hitmen 47-15-26-5-1-36

The Calgary Hitman had a fire sale this season and while most of the assets collected came back in draft picks a good number of draft eligible players remain part of the roster. With Jake Bean (Car) moved out Vladislav Yeryomenko (2018) has become the number one defender for this team. He is aggressive and skates very well with and without the puck and is starting to show better playmaking skills. In addition a rookie in Jackson Van De Leest (2019) has shown he is capable of helping shoulder more minutes on the back end. Those kids coupled with the a nice collection of 17 year olds in Riley Stotts (2018), Carson Focht (2018), Tristen Nielsen (2018), and Egor Zamula (2018) are all getting valuable minutes for the remainder of the season.

Red Deer Rebels 47-11-25-8-3-33

The Rebels have under achieved throughout the early part of the season forcing management’s hand to start rebuilding. Two key pieces in the rebuild look to be Kristian Reichel (2018) and Alex Alexeyev (2018). While playing in the Czech league Reichel was overlooked but this year in Red Deer coupled with a strong showing at the WJC have him moving up draft boards. His skating is very strong which has helped him establish himself as a 200 foot player capable of producing and defending. Alexeyev has been impressive this year and he has dynamic skating and excellent vision and passing skills. He needs to work on his game in his own zone and can have mental lapses in his own zone but he has a ton of potential. They have also been running a 2019 eligible goalie as a starter for most of this season. Ethan Anders‘ (2019) numbers have been respectable despite a number of breakdowns defensively in front of him.

Edmonton Oil Kings 46-13-27-4-2-32

Edmonton’s Memorial Cup victory seems a long time ago as the organization has had another tough season after building back to back Memorial Cup teams just a few years ago. The offense comes from the stick of Trey Fix-Wolansky (Unsigned) who is a very dangerous undersized player. Brett Kemp (2018) may be a late round pick this year despite the team’s struggles overall. The real developmental progression for the Oil Kings is in the 2001’s where Matthew Robertson and Liam Keeler both have shown some real promise.

The Western Conference:

U.S. Division GP-W-L-OTL-SOL-PTS

Everett Silvertips 48-30-16-1-1-62

Everett seems to be built for playoff hockey. Carter Hart (Phi), after being afflicted with mono to start the season, has rebounded to put up some ridiculous numbers. His sparkling 1.51 GAA in 24 games is leaps and bounds better than anyone else in the league. By comparison only three other goalies have a GAA under 3.00 (at least 20 games played) and the best of them is at a 2.77. His save % of .953 is 40 points higher than the next goalie who has played at least 20 games. The scoring is well distributed on this team but the real punch comes from two overage players that have produced while still buying into the defense first system of head coach Dennis Williams. Both Matt Fonteyne and Patrick Bajkov have really shown something this year as they both average well over 1.00 ppg. 2018 draft eligible Riley Sutter has shown that he too can generate offense while playing a sound defensive game. He has good size and speed that sets him apart from other draft eligible forwards in this year’s draft.

Portland Winterhawks 47-28-15-1-3-60

Portland boasts some of the most offensively gifted players in the league. Undersized Skyler McKenzie (Wpg) has a shot at eclipsing 100pts this year and is still targeting a 50 goal season. He likely is the third best forward on his line as he skates with Cody Glass (VGK) and Kieffer Bellows (NYI) on a nightly basis. On the back end they are led by Henri Jokiharju (Chi) and the recently added Dennis Cholowski (Det). Both of these defenders can carry the puck and distribute it at a high level. John Ludvig is the most likely 2018 prospect for this team. He is a pretty effective defensive defenseman capable of making a good first pass while playing a strong physical game.

Seattle Thunderbirds 47-25-16-4-2-56

After losing Matt Barzal (NYI), Ryan Gropp (NYR), and Ethan Bear (Edm) a by-committee approach has led to solid season in the US Division for Seattle. The team sports five players in Nolan Volcan (Unsigned), Donovan Neuls (Unsigned), Zack Andrusiak (Unsigned), Austin Strand (LAK) and Sami Moilanen (Unsigned) who all average right around 1.00 ppg. Seattle has been looking for a stabilizing force in net as three goalies have played over ten games each already this season. The duo of Dorrin Luding (Unsigned) and Liam Hughes (Unsigned) will be asked to deliver solid performances down the stretch if they have any hopes of catching either Portland or Everett.

Tri-City Americans 46-23-16-7-0-53

Juuso Valimaki of the Tri-City Americans.

A highly competitive team that relies on the strength of their back end and strong overage goaltending to compete in a challenging division. The deadline acquisition of Jake Bean (Car) from the Calgary Hitmen really sets the expectations for the group heading into the last 20 games. Dylan Coghlan (Vgk) , Bean and Juuso Valimaki (Cgy) all put up excellent offensive numbers. Up front Morgan Geekie (Car) has been very consistent this year averaging the 1.25 ppg he did in his draft season. Isaac Johnson leads the charge for 2018 potential draft picks as he has a big frame and some decent offensive skills for an overage player. Highly touted Michael Rasmussen (Det) has continued to show his goal scoring prowess this season dispute struggling to stay in the lineup.

Spokane Chiefs 47-25-19-1-2-53

Jaret Anderson-Dolan, photo by Larry Brunt/Spokane Chiefs

The optics of being last in the division do not reflect the strength of this team and their potential to win a round as a wild card in the playoffs. Jaret Anderson-Dolan (LAK) has been a consistent and steady force for this team as it started without one of the most dynamic players in the league in Kailer Yamomoto (Edm). Now 20 games in Yamamoto has rounded back into form and is averaging 1.48 PPG. Add in the early season trade the brought in Zach Fischer (Cgy) the team has a nice balanced group of forwards. On the back end they boast Ty Smith (2018) who has a real shot at going in the top 10 of this year’s NHL entry draft. Despite his stature he projects to be a dynamic playmaker that can carry the puck with speed, while displaying excellent vision and playmaking ability.

B.C. Division GP-W-L-OTL-SOL-PTS

Kelowna Rockets 46-29-14-2-1-61

Cal Foote of Kelowna Rockets

Kelowna’s roster is loaded to bear and despite a lot of injury trouble with key players have been able to battle to the top of the B.C. Division. Kelowna was able to provide the captain for team Canada in Dillon Dube (Cgy), while also providing minute munching defender Cal Foote (TBL). Foote brings the gritty toughness you love in a top pairing defenseman while still being a good playmaker and shooter. Kole Lind (Van) has been pacing the offense this year along with Carsen Twarynski (Phi) as both are on pace to hit 40 goals this season. While being loaded with current draft picks the team still has a number of pieces NHL teams will covet over the next few drafts, Kyle Topping (2018), Libor Zabransky (2018), and Nolan Foote (2019) have all been large contributors to the team’s success this year which bodes well over the next few seasons.

Victoria Royals 48-27-17-3-1-58

Matthew Phillips (Cgy) has been one of the top goal scorers in the entire WHL over the past three seasons and with him signing his ELC in December will very likely be gone after this year. With a goal scoring talent like that leaving town Victoria has a gone all in this year adding Tanner Kaspick (StL), Noah Gregor (SJS), Lane Zablocki (Det), Andrei Grishakov, and Jeff De Wit, showing a real commitment to making their way out of the Western Conference. Tyler Soy (Ana) who early in the season was recognized as the CHL player of the week has had points in 13 of his last 15 games while the new players have since established some chemistry with their new team. In net Griffen Outhouse leads the league in shots faced and saves giving him a very respectable .912 Sv% this season which puts him 3^rd in the league for goalies who have played in over 20 games. If he can stay hot into the playoffs Victoria has a real chance at making the Western Final.

Vancouver Giants 47-25-15-4-3-57

Ty Ronning (NYR) paces Vancouver’s offense with his impressive 42 goals in just 49 games this season. This is even more impressive given that Tyler Benson (Edm) has continued to be plagued by injury problems, missing 13 games already this year after having missed 39 in 2017 and 42 in 2016. Milos Roman (2018) has taken advantage of this and has been providing a playmaking presence on the team with his 21 assists with many projecting him to be a top 60 pick this year.

Kamloops Blazers 47-21-23-1-2-45

Kamloops shipped out a number of their top guys at the deadline with key personnel Garrett Pilon and Ondrej Vala both leaving for Everett. The strength of the U.S. division means that a team stuck in neutral in the B.C. division is a long shot to make the playoffs and Kamloops would have to play lights out down the stretch to even catch a Wild Card spot.

Prince George Cougars 48-18-23-4-3

With Dennis Cholowski (Det) joining the Cougars this summer rather than continue along the college route there was a heightened expectation that was never reached this year. He was impressive scoring 13 goals and 26 assists prior to the trade deadline but could not carry the team. A major hole in the team this season has been scoring with just one player (Josh Maser) with over 20 goals. Nikita Popugaev (NJD), a promising Russian import was expected to lead the line offensively however his commitment to a total team game was lacking, as was his commitment to play in North America as he jumped ship back to Russian after only 13 games. There are a couple of promising youngsters that could hear their names called at the 2018 NHL Entry draft this year including Ilijah Colina, and Jackson Leppard. Leppard is a power forward with a big body and frame that can really shoot the puck, while Colina is a small speedy winger who was in the bottom six in Portland until heading north of the border. Since joining Prince George he has scored 6pts in 9 games in an expanded role with his new team.

***

This season the WHL has two highly competitive divisions and five elite teams in Moose Jaw, Swift Current, Everett, Portland and Kelowna all with a real shot at making the Championship series. The wildcard format is very practical this year, as without it a quality team would be left out of the playoff picture in each Conference. While it is a much debated structure in hockey this season in particular shows the practicality of having potential divisional cross over teams as it ensures that the best 16 teams in the WHL get a shot to go for the Ed Chynoweth Cup, which would not have been the case in a pure divisional playoff structure.

Washington – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 12:10:04 +0000

Most teams scout in a variety of leagues to help replenish the minor league ranks with NHL-potential talent. Both historically and currently, the most popular destinations have been the three leagues of the CHL, the WHL, OHL and QMJHL. Looking at the various organizations around the league, the vast majority of teams had players to follow in all three leagues. There were a handful of teams that did not have a single player affiliated with a QMJHL season last year. There are also two teams that were barren in terms of WHL alumni in the system. And then there are the Washington Capitals. Not only are they the only system without players who spent last year in the OHL, but they also have not recently had a QMJHL affiliated player.

It is possible that their strong lean towards the WHL is a side effect of often having few picks to play with and often only late ones at that. Like the Pittsburgh Penguins, who are perennially contending, trading picks for players of present-day value, and thus putting an inordinate amount of faith in the their NCAA and NCAA feeder league scouts, so too might the Capitals be limiting their scouting exposure to the OHL, QMJHL, and apparently, Finland. Instead, they scout the WHL, Sweden, Switzerland, and to a lesser extent, the NAHL, very heavily, hoping that better depth in specific areas will improve their chances of successful outcomes.

To understand how deep this strategy of omission runs, the last player drafted by the Capitals out of the OHL was Tom Wilson in 2012. The last player they drafted out of the QMJHL was Stanislav Galiev in 2010. And 2004 was the last time they drafted a player out of the Finnish leagues, when they used picks on both Sami Lepisto and Pasi Salonen.

That is how the Capitals’ 2017 draft class, four players strong, included picks out of Fairbanks in the NAHL, EVZ Academy in the second Swiss league, MODO J20 in the Swedish junior leagues, and Almtuna J20, of a lower level Swedish junior league. It is also almost fair to note that the team augmented their system with a trio of college free agent signings from lower profile NCAA schools Alaska-Anchorage, Merrimack, and St. Lawrence.

From where we stand today, the depth over breadth approach to amateur scouting has not paid too many dividends. Although the team tends to be among the best in the league during the regular season, they have tended to flame out in the playoffs, at least in part due to a lack of firepower from the bottom half of the roster. Very few young players are breaking through from their (generally competitive) AHL affiliate in Hershey although the current depth chart suggests that two or three prospects may be ready for their big chance.

Without either a longer playoff run or a group of young prospects establishing themselves in short order with the NHL club, the Capitals will be forced to change their strategy or change the people executing on that strategy. Or both.

Ilya Samsonov

1 Ilya Samsonov – If the Capitals did not already have one of the best netminders in the NHL in his prime and locked up for another three seasons, they would be even more excited for having in their possession one of the clear-cut best goaltending prospects in the game. His numbers have been near the top in the KHL over the last two seasons while literally world beating at the WJC. He has exceptional athleticism for a goalie and rebounds immediately from the occasional stoppable goal allowed. When he is ready to leave Russia, the Capitals will find a way to make room for him on the NHL roster.

Washington Capitals left wing Jakub Vrana (13)(Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire)

2 Jakub Vrana – In two partial seasons in the AHL, the offensively gifted former first round pick has put up very strong numbers for Hershey, there are open questions about how well his game will translate to the NHL. Not even looking at his first 21 games last year (three goals, three assists), his high end speed and puck handling skills risk being neutralized in the NHL by a general lack of urgency. If he proves that he can produce with fewer soft spots in coverage to exploit, he can be a top six winger. No guarantee, though.

Lucas Johansen of the Kelowa Rockets was selected by the Washington Capitals in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo, NY on Friday June 24, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

3 Lucas Johansen – To the naked eye, Johansen’s first post-draft year was marginally disappointing. Scouting the stat line shows offensive totals that had dropped somewhat, from 0.71 points per game in 2015-16, to 0.60 PPG last year. Moving past the stats, Ryan Johansen’s kid brother has been rounding out his game nicely. He has plus mobility and puck playing ability and is developing his defensive zone game marvelously. He still needs to bulk up, but has shutdown, possession ace ability.

4 Connor Hobbs – Hobbs, whose draft year got off to a very rough start, demanding a trade out of Medicine Hat, sojourning with Nipawin of the MJHL before being traded to Regina, is looking like a Grade A steal for the Capitals. He checks off all of the scouting boxes. Average or better as a skater, puck handling, shooter and strong hockey IQ to boot. He also has a solid frame and uses it well. The blueliner finished his WHL career with 109 points in 100 regular season plus playoff games. He is ready for the next level.

5 Madison Bowey – Bowey had a rough second season in the AHL, as sliced tendon in his ankle kept him out of action for nearly half the season. When he did play, his numbers were no better than they had been as a rookie pro. Further, he had a disturbing propensity to make unforced errors, pointing to poor decision making. On the other hand, he is an above average skater with intriguing puck skills and he flashes his physical tools fairly regularly. The next step is consistency.

6 Pheonix Copley – Had the Vegas Golden Knights selected Philipp Grubauer in the expansion draft instead of Nate Schmidt, Copley would be the odds-on favorite to land the backup goalie role in Washington for 2017-18. Signed by the Caps as a free agent out of Michigan Tech, Copley was traded to St. Louis two years ago and traded back this year at the deadline. A good athlete who does not quit on a puck, he has already proven his worth in the AHL. All that stands between him and the NHL is opportunity.

7 Jonas Siegenthaler – Sieganthaler has a very wide frame, uses his body to good effect, skates well for his bulk and is dependable in his own end. He has an active stick, muffles shooting and passing lanes well and keeps tight gaps. On their own, those traits should be enough for the young Swiss blueliner to play in the NHL. Which is good, because he brings little to the table with the puck. He makes a decent first pass in his own zone and nothing else. His shot is poor and his puck carrying is middling.

8 Chandler Stephenson – Although not a serious offensive threat, Stephenson is an easy player to root for. An exceptionally smart two-way forward, the former third rounder is also blessed with a strong set of wheels. While not fancy with the puck, his decisions tend to be the right ones, such as deciding when to hold it or when to lay it off for a teammate. His shot also holds some potential.

9 Shane Gersich – Additional playing with the reigning NCAA champions in North Dakota have led to vastly superior results for Gersich, a talented forward. His stickhandling is his strong-suit, as he has plus hands, good vision and a flair for opportunism. He is also trusted to kill penalties and plays a tenacious brand of hockey that belies his somewhat small frame, crashing the net and not shying from the tough areas.

10 Damien Riat – On the one hand, Riat’s production in his second season of high-level Swiss hockey with Geneve-Servette dropped considerably. On the other, he was once again a force at the World Juniors for his native Switzerland. He pays a sound two-way game, combining a powerful and speedy skating stride with a hard and accurate wrist shot and attention to detail in his own zone. He will be back in the NLA for a third season next year.

11 Travis Boyd – In many ways, Travis Boyd has a lot of the same prospect attributes as Jakub Vrana, profiled above. He is a very good puck handler, understands his role in all three zones and knows how to fire the puck in anger. The main differences between the two are that while Vrana is a very good skater, Boyd is only in the range of average, and Boyd is around 2.5 years older than Vrana, giving him less room for improvement. He has earned an NHL opportunity.

12 Beck Malenstyn – A big-bodied grinder, Malenstyn may be a future success story of the Capitals’ depth approach to scouting discussed at length above. In his first post-draft season, he bumped his goals from eight to 32 and his points from 25 to 56, on a team in a down year. He is unselfish with the puck and can take a hit without being removed from the play. He is also a strong skater who flashes some emerging puck skills. Definitely one who could rise on this list in future seasons.

13 Christian Djoos – Another late round pick who has proven to be an above average AHL player, Djoos’ strongest tool is without doubt his puck moving ability. He exudes confidence with the puck on his stick and generally makes strong decisions, deftly weighing risk and reward. He is also a solid skater. The main question is whether the aforementioned attributes are enough to overcome his slight frame (6-0”, 165). He may have done enough for Washington to try to find out.

14 Vitek Vanecek – Although recently a second round pick, Vanecek has not done enough yet to cement himself in Washington’s future plans. He had a strong rookie North American pro season in the ECHL but was below average in the AHL last year, prompting the team to re-acquire Pheonix Copley. An agile, butterfly-style netminder who is aggressive in his crease. This may be his last chance to stake his claim to a future in DC before Samsonov comes to America.

15 Riley Barber – Another AHL scorer, Barber has a long history of championships under his belt. He has won a Clark Cup with Dubuque, earned Gold Medals in both WU18 (2011-12) and WJC (2012-13) play and led Miami (Ohio) to an NCHC title as a junior in 2014-15. His offensive play is still ahead of his defensive play. He also has a tendency to take extraneous offensive risks. Healthy after missing close to half of last year with a hand injury, he will get more time in the NHL this year.

16 Tobias Geisser – Selected this year at the end of the fourth round, Geisser was the first pick made by the Caps, as they returned to one of their favorite scouting haunts, in Switzerland. He is remarkably mobile for his plus frame with a strong start up. He is also very calm with the puck and is strong on his stick when digging for loose pucks. He more than held his own in his first experience with high level men’s hockey in Switzerland’s second league and is a likely WJC participant this year.

17 Garrett Pilon – Despite a strong post draft season with Kamloops, improving to nearly one point per game, Pilon is still primarily a defensive forward prospect. Most of his game screams “average!”, particularly his ability to push play in the offensive zone. The son of longtime NHLer Rich Pilon still has one more season to leave a mark in the WHL.

18 Brian Pinho – Pinho’s first two post draft seasons were very successful from a team perspective, as he first won a Clark Cup with Indiana, and followed that up with an NCAA championship as a freshman at Providence. Since then, he has steadily improved his ability to produce at the NCAA level. He is a decent skater with solid puck skills combined with offensive zone vision. Quick hands make him dangerous.

19 Hampus Gustafsson – One of three college free agents signed by Washington this offseason, Gustafsson was a decent offensive producer in his last three seasons with Merrimack, trailing only Devils pick Brett Seney in points each year. Other than a partial season in Midget hockey after first coming over from Sweden to North America, he has never produced dominant numbers. What allows him to stand out is his strong 6-4” frame.

20 Chase Priskie – A strong offensive defenseman from Quinnipiac, Priskie brings decent top end speed and confident puck play to the ice. The Florida native still turns off some observers due to risk taking and a propensity for being caught up-ice after a stalled rush. Also most points are finished by his teammates as his point shot is average at best.

The Capitals have a relatively deep system in terms of players who could play roles in the NHL, especially if AHL production is as reasonable a gauge as it usually is. The concern is that after Samsonov, it is hard to state with any certainty that too many guys will mature into players capable of being types that a team can integrate into a part of a winning core. Even those with that potential have clear flaws. It is time for some of these players to be given extended looks in the NHL.

NHL Draft Review and Grades: Washington Capitals

McKeen's Hockey — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 13:17:26 +0000

Lucas Johansen of the Kelowa Rockets was selected by the Washington Capitals in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo, NY on Friday June 24, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

Lucas Johansen was a welcome addition to a team that hadn’t drafted a defenceman in the top 50 since John Carlson’s selection in 2008. He’ll compete for a top-four position in a few years once he adds 20 plus pounds to his slender frame. A heady puck mover with a good shot and offensive instincts….his mobility, quick stick and smarts will make up for his lack of natural aggressiveness. Garrett Pilon is an undersized winger with underwhelming stats who must have impressed the Capitals with his speed...he was not expected to go in the top four rounds…let alone top 90.

RND	PICK	RNK	PLAYER	POS	CTY	HT/WT	TEAM
1	28	29	Lucas Johansen	D	CAN	6-1/175	Kelowna (WHL)
3	87	NR	Garrett Pilon	RW	CAN	5-10/170	Kamloops (WHL)
4	117	NR	Damien Riat	LW	SUI	6-0/165	Geneva-Servette (Sui)
5	145	86	Beck Malenstyn	LW	CAN	6-2/190	Calgary (WHL)
5	147	85	Axel Jonsson-Fjallby	LW	SWE	6-0/170	Djurgardens (Swe)
6	177	144	Chase Priskie	D	USA	6-0/190	Quinnipiac (ECAC)
7	207	NR	Dmitri Zaitsev	D	RUS	6-0/180	Magnitogorsk (Rus)

Beck Malenstyn

Damian Riat must have impressed the Caps’ brass at the U-20 tournament…he’s another undersized winger passed up in last year’s draft. Beck Malenstyn and Axel Jonsson-Fjallby may turn out to be better picks from the fifth round than the two wingers taken right before them…Malenstyn has the size/skating/work ethic teams look for in a bottom line forward even if his sense and hands aren’t elite. Fjallby had a solid U-18 for Sweden in a defensive role…he has decent skill and competes hard. Chase Priskie was an important piece as a freshman defenceman on a Quinnipiac team that made it all the way to the NCAA final. Dmitri Zaitsev took an unusual route for a Russian prospect by competing in the NAHL before representing Russia at the U-18’s.

Grade- C-: The Capitals only had two picks in the top 100, and Pilon at 87 was a curious selection, as was Riat in the top 120. Johansen may end up being the only NHL regular from the top four rounds…an underwhelming draft for a team with seven picks.

NHL Draft Watch: Bean, Twarynski playoff standouts for Hitmen

Grant McCagg — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 07:49:42 +0000

Watched the Red Deer-Calgary playoff game the other night. Here are my observations on the top prospects eligible for the 2016 NHL Draft.

Jake Bean (Calgary) - Bean is a quarterback out there....very smart..sees the ice very well, smart passer...makes a crisp accurate two-line pass with ease...knows how to lead the player so he can be moving when he gets the pass. Competes okay.. not a bruiser but finishes his checks.. He has improved defensively in large part because of his intelligence.. reads the play well. In comparison to McAvoy...not as good all-around, won't be as strong or rugged.. not as competitive but has more offensive upside...better offensive instincts and shot. Take your pick...both would be nice adds to any team.

Jakob Stukel (Calgary) - bit of a one-way guy.. not always involved... would like to see him compete and skate harder at times. Has some offensive instincts though and a good shot....4th round perhaps? Considering he's a 97....would like to see a bit more from him beside power play goals.

Beck Malenstyn (Calgary) - looks awfully good out there at times...big kid, smooth skater, decent speed....even scored a nice goal last night with a well-placed shot. One night he looks like someone you/d never draft, the next he looks like a top 90 guy. Not the smartest player, his compete can be in and out but last night he worked fairly hard and played well. He doesn't have very good hands or vision...if you can teach him to compete every night perhaps there is some bottom line center upside. 4th-5th round you are considering him.. he keeps producing in the playoffs - his stock may rise.

Carsen Twarynski (Calgary) - he's my favourite after Bean.. plays a hard rugged style, not a pretty, agile skater but moves okay north south. Hits hard and often, has some smarts and not without some offensive skills...should have had one last night but was robbed on a great save.. has decent shot and vision. He looks like a third or fourth line NHLer down the road. 3rd round pick for me.

Jordy Stallard (Calgary) - played on the wing with Matteo Gennaro and Twarynski ....got a little more involved physically than he did at center because he has no choice on the boards. Not rugged by any means, but was willing to take a hit to make a play last night, and throw a couple of hits even if they were soft. Scored nice goal and set up Carsen nicely for what could have been another. It was a fast-paced game last night and he had trouble keeping up at times.. not overly quick off the hop.. needs to get stronger. 4th round guy...not sure what he is - a winger or a center.. Can he play a bottom line role? Tough to define him at this point.

Josh Mahura (Red Deer) - he thinks he's the new King Clancy... only problem is they eliminated the rover from the game in the 1920's. Up ice constantly.. rarely in his defensive position. He didn't play much the first half of the game.. played a bit more as time went on.. but doesn't look like he's a Sutter type with his mindset. Not very big or physical...not seeing much from a defensive standpoint yet. Skates okay and can move the puck...but also tries to make risky plays.. bit of a riverboat gambler type. Need to see more of him, but first impression is mid-round guy at best.

Brandon Hagel (Red Deer) - Has good chemistry with Jake Debrusk...looks for him often and sets him up frequently.. Very good vision and a smart passer. Skating is okay good competitiveness, there are things to like. May have third-line NHL upside...3rd round likely..4th at the latest.

Jeff de Wit (Red Deer) - He was pretty invisible in this game. instincts and compete aren't great...not an especially good skater. Behind the play quite a bit. Played less and less as the game went on. Late draft perhaps.

Beck Malenstyn – McKeen's Hockey

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: WASHINGTON CAPITALS – RANK: #28 – TIER VI

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Washington Capitals Top 20 Prospects

Connor McMichael, C (25th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Hendrix Lapierre, C (22nd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Alexander Alexeyev, D (31st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Martin Fehervary, D (46th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 3)

Aliaksei Protas, C (91st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 4)

Garrett Pilon, C (87th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 5)

Brian Pinho, C (174th overall, 2013. Previous ranking: 6)

Kody Clark, RW (47th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 7)

Brett Leason, RW (56th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 8)

Lucas Johansen, D (28th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 9)

Vitek Vanecek, G (39th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 10)

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, LW (147th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 11)

Damien Riat, LW (117th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 12)

Oskar Magnusson, LW (211th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Bobby Nardella, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Apr. 5, 2019. Previous ranking: 14)

Martin Hugo Has, D (153rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 15)

Garin Bjorklund, G (179th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Mitchell Gibson, G (124th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 17)

Beck Malenstyn, LW (145th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 18)

Riley Sutter, RW (93rd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: UR)

Washington Capitals 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

State of the CHL: The Western Hockey League

The Eastern Conference:

East Division GP-W-L-OTL-SOL-PTS

Moose Jaw Warriors 48-38-7-1-2-79

Swift Current Bronco’s 49-33-12-3-1-70

Brandon Wheat Kings 48-28-15-3-2-61

Regina Pats 49-24-20-5-0-53

Saskatoon Blades 48-23-22-2-1-49

Prince Albert Raiders 47-18-20-7-2-45

Central Division GP-W-L-OTL-SOL-PTS

Medicine Hat Tigers 48-24-19-5-0-53

Lethbridge Hurricanes 47-22-21-4-0-48

Kooteney ICE 47-21-23-3-0-45

Calgary Hitmen 47-15-26-5-1-36

Red Deer Rebels 47-11-25-8-3-33

Edmonton Oil Kings 46-13-27-4-2-32

The Western Conference:

U.S. Division GP-W-L-OTL-SOL-PTS

Everett Silvertips 48-30-16-1-1-62

Portland Winterhawks 47-28-15-1-3-60

Seattle Thunderbirds 47-25-16-4-2-56

Tri-City Americans 46-23-16-7-0-53

Spokane Chiefs 47-25-19-1-2-53

B.C. Division GP-W-L-OTL-SOL-PTS

Kelowna Rockets 46-29-14-2-1-61

Victoria Royals 48-27-17-3-1-58

Vancouver Giants 47-25-15-4-3-57

Kamloops Blazers 47-21-23-1-2-45

Prince George Cougars 48-18-23-4-3

Washington – System Overview

NHL Draft Review and Grades: Washington Capitals

NHL Draft Watch: Bean, Twarynski playoff standouts for Hitmen

Connor McMichael, C (25^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Hendrix Lapierre, C (22^nd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Alexander Alexeyev, D (31^st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Martin Fehervary, D (46^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 3)

Aliaksei Protas, C (91^st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 4)

Garrett Pilon, C (87^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 5)

Brian Pinho, C (174^th overall, 2013. Previous ranking: 6)

Kody Clark, RW (47^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 7)

Brett Leason, RW (56^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 8)

Lucas Johansen, D (28^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 9)

Vitek Vanecek, G (39^th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 10)

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, LW (147^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 11)

Damien Riat, LW (117^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 12)

Oskar Magnusson, LW (211^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Martin Hugo Has, D (153^rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 15)

Garin Bjorklund, G (179^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Mitchell Gibson, G (124^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 17)

Beck Malenstyn, LW (145^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 18)

Riley Sutter, RW (93^rd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: UR)