Straw into Gold

Another continuation of the Karp Washington Capitals pipeline show, this time we will attempt to finish off the forward future and pipeline. Its a moderately long list so hopefully the reader will bear with me while we attempt to spin the atrocious straw beginnings of the franchise into gold. These 2 guys are going to cement the top 6 for many seasons to come.

First is Tim Stutzle who was somehow available for us to select with the first ever pick in the roster draft while this season was a step back for the kid, he is back to being a point per game player in the 25 NHL season. Next up is Connor McMichael who is actually a year old than Tim is and is having a very fine 2025 season in the NHL.

Now on to the true prospects. We already mentioned Danila Yurov in our center discussion but there is a very real possibility that he ends up on the wing in the NHL. With Calum Ritchie being traded to the NHL Islanders that gives us 3 of their top pivots. Not a bad situation as it appears they have embraced a bit of a retool.

There are quite a few really promising kids but lets begin with Ivan Miroshnichenko who is roughly at a point per game pace in the AHL, he has also played in 18 NHL games in the 25 season. I think he has 35 goal potential and is still only 21 years old. Washington hasn't rushed him to the show and neither will we. Its very likely we leave him in the Karp AHL next season as well. Top 6 potential all day long with this player.

Liam Ohgren is another 21 year old with 23 NHL games this season, yet put up almost a point per game in the AHL. With the NHL's Wild bringing in some established players at this years deadline Ohgren has been moved back to Iowa which is unfortunately not a very good team so perhaps he sees the NHL playoffs from the pressbox. Not an ideal situation and hopefully he can use it as a learning opportunity by just being around the boys, but its outside our control. Top 6 upside but perhaps he settles in as a premier 3rd liner for a very good team ? Hard to say.

Ryan Leonard should probably be first on the list as he appears a lock for some NHL action this season as soon as the NCAA season is complete. At only 20 years old there is little doubt that he can play in the NHL. The question is not if, but when and I think that will be answered in April. Our hope is he appears like Christopher Kreider did for NYR back in the day who scored 5 goals in 18 playoff gp over a decade ago. Good luck to the kid who decided to wait another season to try and bring a championship to BC. Doing the right thing ain't always easy.

Next up is Beckett Sennecke who continues to grow into his body. Just a few seasons ago he was a smaller skill guy, but then he just sprouted and is currently listed at 6'4”. Perhaps the NHL Ducks reached for him a bit but his season in Oshawa this year is very impressive. 36 plants in 52 gp. Maybe his development and emergence will force the Karp Capitals to skate players like Miroshnichenko and Ohgren in lower forward slots. Sennecke was the best player on the board when we drafted so we have no regrets about that, nor are we going to complain about it either.

Kasper Halttunen finally gets some love albeit a bit down the list. While he was able to make the AHL Barracuda out of this seasons training camp and did put up a respectable 4 points in 6gp, he was returned to the OHL Knights where he has once again put up point per game numbers for a very strong and deep team. The knock on this kid was his skating and off puck play, but I think he has shown some progress in those areas. Obviously just an opinion there, but with so many “experts” out there I think its safe to say Kasper will get a good long look in short order. Perhaps a 2nd line winger with top PP time ? Not sure at present, but he will find a way into the lineup relatively soon methinks.

Igor Chernyshov will be the last player “worthy” of a few sentences. After coming back from wing surgery Igor finds himself on a line with a top 3 2025 NHL draft eligible player. He has made the most of it too. Wow. 17 goals in 17 gp. Its one thing to get the shot, its another to bank some serious offensive numbers while there. His first few games at Saginaw were hit and miss but of late he really seems to have found his groove. Its hard enough to transition to a new country, language and culture which is something I truly understand and appreciate, but I had almost 15 years additional experience before making the move overseas. Igor is just lighting it up and we are so happy to have drafted him when we did.

Other forwards who probably deserve some attention are; Bradly Nadeau, Michael Brandsegg Nygard, Alex Suzdalev, Juraj Pekarcik, Gleb Trikozov and Alexander Rykov. If only a couple of these other players make the show we will have to probably start selling them off. Thanks for reading.