Organizational Rankings 20. Washington Capitals

16 Apr 2024

dobberprospects.com

Pat Quinn

2024-04-16

20. Washington Capitals – Score: 69.3

Top 15 Prospects

Washington Capitals - Figure 1 — Photo dobberprospects.com

Rank Player Position Score Fantrax Roster % 1 Ryan Leonard RW 8.3 34% 2 Andrew Cristall LW 7.8 22% 3 Ivan Miroshnichenko LW/RW 7.3 25% 4 Hendrix Lapierre C/LW 6.3 23% 5 Ryan Chesley D 4.7 6% 6 Alexander Suzdalev LW 4.6 4% 7 Alexander Alexeyev D 4.2 7% 8 Ludwig Persson LW/RW 4.0 1% 9 Vincent Iorio D 3.2 4% 10 Clay Stevenson G 3.2 6% 11 Ethen Frank RW 2.4 1% 12 Mitchell Gibson G 2.4 2% 13 Pierrick Dube RW 2.1 1% 14 Jake Karabela C 1.3 1% 15 Patrick Thomas C 1.1 1% Individual Breakdown

In the Washington Capitals last few drafts the team has made a priority of drafting high-upside skilled players that dropped on draft day (Lapierre, Miroshnichenko, Allen, and Cristall), which has really added to the system depth. For the longest time the team drafted safe forwards and defensemen (especially left-handed ones from the WHL), so a lot of these names are recent picks.

The 2023 draft was the highest the Capitals drafted in a long time and when they drafted Leonard, he immediately became the top prosect in the system. Many DobberProspect writers all believe in the high upside of Cristall but keep him lower due to the uncertainty of the rest of his game developing to NHL standards. Miroshnichenko may even be rated a bit lower considering how fast the Capitals have given him NHL opportunities.

Washington Capitals - Figure 2 — Photo dobberprospects.com

The Hershey Bears are always a competitive AHL team, and while the team does not score a lot or give the best opportunities to young players, they develop NHL qualities in players. Two stand out players for Hershey at forward have been free agent signings Frank (on the older side) and Dube. Both players are ones to watch, or stash, in deeper leagues.

The Capitals are rarely talked about as a goalie factory, but the team routinely spits out, at least, NHL split starters. Stevenson has had an incredible first year in the AHL, and at 25 he is slightly older, but Washington signed him to a three-year extension where his contract is one-way in 2025-26. Mitchell Gibson, a year younger than Stevenson, is progressing along the usual Washington path (Junior/College -> ECHL -> AHL)

Team Breakdown

The Capitals are pretty top heavy for prospects, but in fantasy that is never a bad thing. Perhaps I am a little biased in my analysis, as I have a lot more faith in Washinton prospects than others. Frank, Dube, Persson, and Gibson have some wild swings in ratings. Should out to Aaron Itovich for the faith in Cam Allen, inconsistent play in his draft year dropped his stock plus a major injury have dropped him off most fantasy GM’s radars, he is one to watch.

Washington will have many openings in the line up as the team attempts to navigate being competitive for Ovechkin while developing young players.

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Pat Quinn

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