Washington Capitals: Top 10 prospects entering 2019

The Washington Capitals will need their young players to step up in the next few years. Here’s a look at their top 10 prospects entering the 2019-20 season.

Years of contending have not been kind to the Washington Capitals prospect pipeline. It’s hard to build a strong prospect pool when you consistently draft in the later portions of each round and when you trade picks for rentals.

The 2019 NHL Draft saw the Capitals add quite a bit of talent to their pipeline. In the coming seasons, their prospects will determine how much longer the Caps can remain Stanley Cup contenders. They’ve been in that category for the better part of the past 12 years. If the Capitals prospects step up, the team could remain in that category.

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Last summer, the Caps had arguably the worst prospect pool in the NHL. This season, thanks to an aggressive approach to the draft, suddenly, the Capitals are out of the bottom. Though they’re still close to the bottom, it’s an improvement nonetheless.

First of all, let’s define what a prospect is. Everyone has a different definition for what a prospect is, but mine is fairly simple. For me, a prospect is any player who fits the following criteria.

• Must be younger than 25 years old as of Oct. 1, 2019
• Must have played less than 30 games in each NHL season
• Cannot have played more than 40 NHL games in any two consecutive seasons

Let me give some examples. Though Jakub Vrana is under 25 years old, he is not a prospect because he played in over 30 NHL games last season. Travis Boyd is not a prospect because he is over 25 years old.

While the Capitals are a bit lacking in impact players in their pipeline, I believe they have quite a few players who could be contributors at the NHL level. Let’s take a look at their top 10 prospects.

9. Shane Gersich

Acquired: 2014 NHL Draft (fifth-round pick)

Age: 23

Position: Left Wing/Center

Stats: 66 games, 8 goals, 16 assists, 24 points, 9 postseason games, 1 goal, 2 assists, 3 points (Hershey Bears, AHL)

Prospect Report

Shane Gersich is the lone player on this list who is a Stanley Cup champion. The Capitals thought highly enough of him to let him stick around in Washington after signing his entry-level contract late during the 2017-18 season. Gersich even appeared in two postseason games.

The 2018-19 season saw Gersich play his first full professional season. He struggled at times, but still wound up with 24 points in 66 games, which isn’t too shabby. Gersich didn’t get many chances to show off what he can do on offense. And when he did, I think he tried a bit too hard to make something happen.

Gersich is probably on the Capitals shortlist for callups. He is a better two-way player than he was a year ago. If Gersich stops overthinking the game and does a better job reacting to what happens, I could see him having a breakout season. He has speed on his side, which definitely helps.

Unfortunately, the Hershey Bears have a plethora of veteran forward options. This might not be good for Gersich. But at the same time, I think it’ll breed competition, which could be good for him. Gersich didn’t stand out during the 2018-19 season. He’s got to find a way to do it next season.

Future Outlook

I could see Gersich sticking as a third-line or fourth-line wing in the NHL. He did a good job on the Bears penalty kill last season and he improved quite a bit as far as utilizing his speed. Gersich’s floor is a good to very good depth forward. We haven’t seen the last of him in the NHL.

8. Martin Fehervary

Acquired: 2018 NHL Draft (second-round pick)

Age: 19 (turns 20 in October)

Position: Defenseman

Stats: 45 games, 1 goal, 6 assists, 7 points, 9 postseason games, 0 goals, 3 assists, 3 points (HV71, SHL)

Prospect Report

Martin Fehérváry got better as the 2018-19 season went on. By the end of the postseason, he was playing well-deserved minutes on HV71’s top-pairing. Fehérváry will likely never bring too much to the table on offense, but I’ve seen enough flashes of potential to give me confidence he has room to grow there.

His defensive game really stands out to me. Not only is Fehérváry big, but he also uses his size very well. He only had 10 penalty minutes last season, which tells you he can play a physical, yet disciplined, game. Fehérváry’s speed is a lot better than you’d think for a big guy.

I’m curious to see what the Capitals do with Fehérváry this season. They could bring him over to the AHL or ECHL. However, I think it would be best for Fehérváry if he stays in the SHL. He seemed to gain a lot of confidence last season. And it’s pretty clear HV71 has minutes to give to Fehérváry.

It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if he manages to steal a roster spot on the Bears or the South Carolina Stingrays (their ECHL affiliate). Fehérváry is trending up and he’s someone I’ll be keeping an eye on next season, especially since he ended last season so strongly.

Future Outlook

Right now, I think Fehérváry’s ceiling is a third-pairing defenseman who can kill penalties. However, if his offensive game develops, I think he has enough tools to be a lower-tier second-pairing defenseman.

Fehérváry’s floor is an interesting depth option. It mostly depends on how well he adjusts to North America and if his offensive potential ever shines.

7. Vitek Vanecek

Acquired: 2014 NHL Draft (second-round pick)

Age: 23

Position: Goaltender

Stats: 38 games, 2.62 GAA, .907% save percentage, 4 postseason games, 2.25 GAA, .935% save percentage (Hershey Bears, AHL)

Prospect Report

Vitek Vanecek has the talent to be an NHL goaltender but has yet to put it all together. After an encouraging rookie season in Hershey during the 2016-17 season, he has yet to best his .909 save percentage from that season.

Like most younger goalies, Vanecek struggles with consistency. He’ll look great some nights, and awful on others. Vanecek was brilliant in the first half for the Bears, earning an All-Star spot. He kept them in games they didn’t deserve to be in.

Vanecek set a career-high with 21 wins during the 2018-19 season while splitting the net with 2015 first-round pick Ilya Samsonov. There’s more to goaltending than numbers, but Vanecek put up better numbers than him over the course of the full season. Vanecek was better in the first half, but Samsonov was better in the second half.

He lacks the ideal size you like to see in a goaltender, but he makes up for it with above-average athleticism. Vanecek’s positioning is one of his weak points, but if he can improve there, he’ll be a much better goaltender.

The 2019-20 season will be an important one for Vanecek. He must prove himself with a strong season, as the Capitals goaltending situation isn’t certain after the 2019-20 season. Braden Holtby will be an unrestricted free agent, so there will be an opportunity for Vanecek to compete for a starting role for the Capitals.

Future Outlook

Vanecek’s ceiling is a very capable NHL backup goaltender. He has flourished in a tandem with the Bears, so that would be the most ideal role for him. For what it’s worth, Vanecek worked very well with Samsonov last season. I could see them working together in the NHL.

His floor is a very solid depth goaltender. There’s no question Vanecek is an AHL-caliber goaltender. He’ll probably get a cup of coffee or two in the NHL even in a worst-case scenario. Vanecek has the talent to be an NHL goaltender, he just needs to harness it and show it more consistently.

6. Riley Sutter

Acquired: 2018 NHL Draft (third-round pick)

Age: 19 (turns 20 in October)

Position: Right Wing

Stats: 38 games, 14 goals, 27 assists, 41 points, 3 postseason games, 1 point (Everett Silvertips, WHL)

Prospect Report

Riley Sutter had his 2018-19 season cut short thanks to injuries, but he showed quite a bit of improvement. It’s worth noting he did this at the age of 19, but he averaged over a point per game in the WHL on a not so stellar team. Despite missing 30 games, Sutter still finished fifth on the team in points.

He has the makings to be a power forward in the NHL with his size, skill, and above-average speed. Sutter’s skating was noticeably more efficient last season. If that’s a sign of things to come, it’s encouraging.

Sutter isn’t afraid to be physical and he knows where to go to cause chaos in the offensive zone – near the crease. He should compete for a spot with the Bears this season. However, as I said earlier, Hershey has a bit of a surplus at forward. Sutter could see some time in the ECHL if he struggles to find the ice in the AHL.

Future Outlook

With his unique skillset, Sutter’s ceiling is a bit hard to predict. That said, I think he could be a solid top-nine forward in the NHL. Sutter’s hockey IQ is an underrated part of his game. If it continues to improve, I could see him as a capable second-line wing. Think of Sutter as a lesser Tom Wilson with fewer shenanigans.

5. Jonas Siegenthaler

Acquired: 2015 NHL Draft (second-round pick)

Age: 22

Position: Defenseman

Stats: 26 games, 0 goals, 4 assists, 4 points, 4 postseason games, 0 points (Washington Capitals, NHL); 34 games, 2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points (Hershey Bears, AHL)

Prospect Report

Give credit to Jonas Siegenthaler. He impressed enough last season to play over 20 NHL games for the Capitals. His defense is his calling card, but I don’t see him as a liability on offense. Siegenthaler proved he’s big enough and quick enough to stick in the NHL.

Without a doubt, he’s their most NHL-ready defenseman prospect. It’ll be interesting to see what they do with him to start this season. Don’t be surprised if Siegenthaler starts in the AHL, especially if the Capitals want to see if Christian Djoos can be a good partner for Radko Gudas on the third pairing.

He’s a reliable shutdown defenseman who can tilt the ice significantly in his team’s favor. Even when Siegenthaler had to play more minutes after Michal Kempny’s injury, he looked like he belonged in the NHL.

Future Outlook

Siegenthaler could get a permanent spot on the Capitals roster as soon as the start of the 2019-20 season. He’ll likely have it by the end of the season at the latest. Siegenthaler projects to be a capable top-four defenseman. I don’t see enough offense in his game to be a top-pairing defenseman, though.

4. Brett Leason

Acquired: 2019 NHL Draft (second-round pick)

Age: 20

Position: Right Wing

Stats: 55 games, 36 goals, 53 assists, 89 points, 22 postseason games, 10 goals, 15 assists, 25 points (Prince Albert Raiders, WHL)

Prospect Report

It’s not a stretch to say Brett Leason was one of the best forwards in the WHL last season. Usually, when an overager does it, it’s because they’re playing above their competition. But with Leason, I think his development curve just took a little while longer to start.

He’s a huge forward at 6’4″ and 201 pounds. Leason has an NHL-ready body and he uses it very effectively. He’s not as physical as you might think. Rather, Leason uses his length and size to protect the puck along the boards. He’s very hard to play off the puck, especially since Leason is great at positioning himself to win battles.

However, Leason is skilled enough to play away from the boards as well. He can beat you in a variety of ways, including from the slot. The Capitals will be sending him to the AHL. Leason should quickly earn playing time there, especially if he plays as well as he did last season. He’s skilled enough and fast enough to play with skilled linemates without dragging them down.

Future Outlook

Next season will be quite telling for Leason. It’s hard to fairly judge him since he was older than most of his competitors last season. Leason has the tools and hockey IQ to be a decent top-six forward. At the very least, he should be a good third-line forward.

3. Connor McMichael

Acquired: 2019 NHL Draft (first-round pick)

Age: 18

Position: Center

Stats: 67 games, 36 goals, 36 assists, 72 points, 11 postseason games, 2 goals, 3 assists, 5 points (London Knights, OHL)

Prospect Report

Connor McMichael had an excellent draft year, as he led the London Knights in points and goals during the regular season. While he didn’t do well in the postseason, that was largely due to having to switch from center to wing. That’s a transition McMichael didn’t make well.

But if you look at his season, it’s hard not to be impressed. McMichael emerged as one of the 2019 NHL Draft’s top goal scorers despite not having an outstanding shot or release. I like his ability to generate shots. He’s not afraid to pull the trigger from anywhere in the offensive zone.

McMichael has a nose for the net as well. His hockey IQ is best used when he’s around the net and picking apart defenses. He has nice speed and can be a bit stealthy in the offensive zone. If you lose track of him, McMichael can make you pay.

His two-way game needs to improve, as there were times I didn’t notice him in the defensive zone. But once the puck starts moving up the ice, McMichael is a legitimate scoring threat.

Future Outlook

McMichael has the tools to be a top-six forward in the NHL. He’ll likely be more of an offensive player, though he could certainly grow defensively. McMichael might not stick at center in the NHL unless he improves there.

2. Alexander Alexeyev

Acquired: 2018 NHL Draft (first-round pick)

Age: 19 (turns 20 in November)

Position: Defenseman

Stats: 49 games, 10 goals, 33 assists, 43 points (Red Deer Rebels, WHL)

Prospect Report

Alexander Alexeyev was flirting with a point per game in the WHL before an injury ended his season early. It’s likely he’ll start the 2019-20 season on the injury list, as he’s still not at 100% yet. Alexeyev was the Rebels most trusted defenseman last season. He also stood out at the World Juniors for Russia, acting as a top-pairing defenseman for the bronze medal winners.

Alexeyev does his best work when he has the puck on his stick. With his above-average mobility and fearlessness, he can lead the rush up the ice and he’s not afraid to pinch in the offensive zone. At the same time, Alexeyev is very good at knowing when to pinch and when to hang back.

He’s 6’4″, so he’s definitely big enough to play in the NHL. Alexeyev won’t wow you with his speed, but he’s an effective skater who can skate at the NHL level. However, it will be interesting to see how he recovers from his injury.

Alexeyev impressed the Capitals so much during prospect camp and training camp, they kept him around until the last cuts. He should be NHL-ready in a year or two.

Future Outlook

I think Alexeyev projects to be a top-four defenseman in the NHL. He reminds me a lot of (ironically) Dmitry Orlov. Much like Orlov, Alexeyev has to make smarter decisions with the puck, but at the same time, he’s capable of doing so many dangerous things with it. For what it’s worth, Alexeyev is more developed than Orlov was at this point.

1. Ilya Samsonov

Acquired: 2015 NHL Draft (first-round pick)

Age: 22

Position: Goaltender

Stats: 37 games, 2.70 GAA, .898% save percentage, 5 postseason games, 2.99 GAA, .897% save percentage (Hershey Bears, AHL)

Prospect Profile

Ilya Samsonov might not have put up as impressive numbers as Vitek Vanecek did with the Hershey Bears. But, as always, numbers require context. The 2018-19 season was Samsonov’s first in North America. Given his success in the KHL, it’s safe to say he’s clearly the more talented goaltender.

Expect a much better season from Samsonov this season. Last season, he was getting used to the smaller North American rink. Samsonov’s first-half stats were bad – he was among the worst AHL goaltenders before the All-Star break. Something clicked for him during the break, as he posted a .927% save percentage in 19 games following it. That is much closer to what he posted in the KHL.

Samsonov has a very good mind too. Most young goalies tend to get rattled, but even when he was performing poorly in the first half of last season, I never saw him lacking confidence. Samsonov is a bit prone to the five-hole, but he tweaked something during last season and was a lot better at protecting his five-hole towards the end of last season.

The Capitals have a poor salary cap situation, so unless Braden Holtby goes down long-term, you won’t see Samsonov in the NHL during the 2019-20 season. His performance bonuses will make it hard for the Caps to keep him on the NHL roster.

Future Outlook

I loved watching the dynamic between Vanecek and Samsonov last season. It’s rare to see two young goalies on the same team in the AHL, but it was fun to watch them grow together. I think the Capitals future in net is with those two. Samsonov has the potential to be a franchise goaltender.