The cavalry is coming

Yet another article about the Washington Capitals pipeline. After the terrible first 2 seasons its the only thing that gives us hope. Last season the Capitals traded the number 2 overall for a number of later picks and ended up drafting at nine, 25 and 28. Ryan Leonard at 9 overall isn't too shabby a selection. Although I selfishly want Leonard to sign with the Caps this year, I think its probably best for his long term development to return to college for another run at the championship and then sign a contract to join Washington towards the end of the 24-25 season.

This season the club sits with number five overall, 15 and 29, so hopefully we can fill out a few more players with NHL upside. Clearly the team is very deep at wing, yet at 5 overall in this years draft we may find a situation where the best overall player is at wing so make no mistake we are going to take that player. We will have the happy problem of moving one or more of these promising forwards in exchange for help elsewhere because we obviously need it and at this point the trend for this team is upward, although this upcoming season could be another less than mediocre one.

Going into season 3 of what was hoped to be a 3 to 5 year plan, I'd say we are in a pretty good position to see many of our selections turning into quality NHL players. Team needs are especially in net and on the backend. Although we have a working theory about how this sort of thing works out and will be sticking to this strategy in the KPHL. Its worked relatively well in the other leagues I play in, so fingers crossed.

We feel that Ritchie, Yurov, Leonard, Halttunen. Ohgren and Miroshnechenko all have top 6 upside. This is going to be a very good group of young forwards who can join Tim Stutzle who is already well established. We also front loaded his contract so that if and when a few of these other kids start to hit their prime, Tim will be on a relatively affordable deal. Thus leaving more megabucks to throw at locking the more productive players. Personally I think that Leonard, Yurov and Ritchie have top line potential, with Halttunen and Miroshnechenko looking to garner top PP time in the NHL Ohgren is more of a wildcard, but he should have a great opportunity in Minnesota due to their cap issues.

While some other players could end up in the show, we have a high degree of confidence with the aforementioned guys. If only a couple of the other forwards turn into middle six or even effective checking wingers we think we are more than set up front. Just a matter of waiting for development and hoping nobody has a serious injury. I like what I have seen of Trikozov and Pekarcik, but won't write off Rykov and Suzdalev at this point either. Suzdalev was injured and floated around 3 different hockey clubs, while Pekarcik had a very good season in the USHL as an 18 year old player on the different ice sheet of North America. Trikozov needs to establish himself in the KHL this upcoming season while Rykov played half the season in the KHL and will return for the 24-25 season with Traktor.

These guys are on course to at least push for a shot at the NHL and I know some of you all feel the same way as in any trade talks some of these names appear in the discussion. Obviously we are not trading these kids for a 35 year old with a year or two of contract before retiring to play golf in the Pacific Northwest.

So add 3 more first round picks to the depth chart going into the draft, plus the 37th overall pick due to the Caps failure to gain any ground during the grinding end of last season.

Center

Connor McMichael

Hendrix Lapierre

Calum Ritchie

Bradly Nadeau

Rasmus Kumpalainen

Danny Nelson

Wing

Danila Yurov

Ryan Leonard

Kasper Halttunen

Liam Ohgren

Ivan Miroshnechenko

Gleb Trikozov

Alex Rykov

Alex Suzdalev

Bogdan Trineyev

Juraj Pekarcik

Defense

Ryan Chesley

Vincent Iorio

Albert Johansson

Netminder

Melker Thelin

Melvin Strahl