Washington Capitals

Washington Capitals

Team Depth Chart of NHL Prospects
Strengths
  • Surplus of role players
  • Talented depth in goal
  • Several prospects with high-end potential
Weaknesses
  • Thin on defense and left wing
  • Shallow pool in terms of overall NHL potential.

About Prospect Scores and Probability

Prospect Criteria

Legend of Players' Leagues
Pro
Playing in N.A. Pro (NHL, AHL, ECHL, etc.)
CHL
Playing in CHL (OHL, QMJHL, WHL)
NCAA
Playing in NCAA
Europe
Playing in Europe
Junior
Playing in Junior 'A' (USHL, BCHL, AJHL, etc.)
N/A
Not Categorized Yet

Goaltenders

 League Prosp. talent Prob. of success
1. Braden Holtby Pro 7.5 B
2. Philipp Grubauer Pro 6.5 C
3. Brandon Anderson CHL 6.0 D
4. Steffen Soberg CHL 6.0 D

Right Wing

 League Prosp. talent Prob. of success
1. Yevgeni Kuznetsov Europe 8.0 C
2. Garrett Mitchell Pro 5.5 C
3. Danick Paquette Pro 5.0 D

Left Wing

 League Prosp. talent Prob. of success
1. Stanislav Galiev CHL 7.0 C
2. Andrew Glass NCAA 6.0 F
3. Taylor Stefishen Pro 5.5 D
4. Greg Burke NCAA 5.0 D

Centers

 League Prosp. talent Prob. of success
1. Cody Eakin Pro 6.5 B
2. Caleb Herbert NCAA 6.5 D
3. Michael Carman Pro 6.0 C
4. Mattias Sjogren Pro 6.0 D
5. Travis Boyd Junior 6.0 D
6. Christian Hanson Pro 5.5 B
7. Nick Larson NCAA 5.5 D

Defensemen

 League Prosp. talent Prob. of success
1. Dmitri Orlov Pro 7.0 B
2. Patrick Wey NCAA 6.5 C
3. Kevin Marshall Pro 6.5 C
4. Tomas Kundratek Pro 6.5 C
5. Samuel Carrier CHL 6.5 D
6. Brett Flemming Pro 6.5 D
7. Dustin Stevenson Pro 6.0 D
8. Cameron Schilling Pro 6.0 D
9. Garrett Haar Junior 6.0 D
10. Patrick Koudys NCAA 6.0 D

Capitals Camp Full of Stories

by Jeff Charlesworth
on
Training camp is less than a week old, and there has already been enough turmoil to last an entire season. It is difficult to keep track of all the storylines, and depending on how some of those scenarios play out – the opening day lineup could end up looking very different than the one we anticipate right now.

The most surprising move came after the first practice of camp. Free Agent acquisition Stephane Richer decided he didn’t have it in him to compete in another season, and announced his retirement. He had been brought in from St. Louis to boost our mediocre power play. The move came as a shock to players and fans alike; partly because of the unexpected nature of it, but mostly due to the timing.

Around the same time as the Richer announcement, defenseman Brendan Witt stated that he too was considering retirement. He is unhappy about the contract he received as a result of his arbitration loss during the off-season. Although he seems quite serious about this stance, it is hoped that he will eventually return to the lineup. It is also believed that George McPhee has no interset in renegotiating the pact, and expects Brendan to be in the lineup opening day.
Read more»

Caps Open Camp

by Jeff Charlesworth
on
The moment Caps fans have been waiting for came on Friday, when training camp began for real. This is expected to be another banner season for Washington, as nothing less than a repeat of the Division Championship will do. Although the fight for spots in the lineup will be tough, the most difficult job belongs to Head Coach Ron Wilson. It is his task to pare down the roster to 23 players for opening day.

There are 27 players in camp who took part in an NHL game last seaon. Also in the hunt are several young players looking to establish themselves. 1999 first round selection Kris Beech is being projected as a future star and will be given every chance to make the team. 2000 draftee Bjorn Nord also hopes to be around in October – as he is in an all-or-nothing situation. If he does not stick with the Caps, he will return home to Sweden.

There are two players in camp on a tryout basis – Forward Greg Davis and Goaltender Tim Barlow. Davis is a big centre who will be entering his sophomore year at McGill University in Canada. He is a very talented offensive player, and scored 42 points in 38 games last season. Barlow is a former teammate of Rastislav Stana in Moose Jaw (WHL). He inherited the starting job with the Warriors after Stana was dealt to Calgary.
Read more»

Portland Pirates Preview

by Jeff Charlesworth
on
The Portland Pirates will start their season in about a month’s time with more than half of last year’s roster intact. This will be a very different team however, as they will no longer have superstar goaltender Martin Brochu leading them into battle. Brochu signed with Calgary recently in an attempt to get to the NHL quicker.

The 2000-01 edition of the Pirates will have an overhauled defense corps, and should have a more potent offense. They will be counting on at least four rookies and four veteran additions to get them back to the form that had them first overall for an extended stretch last year.

Trying to predict a lineup before training camp begins is very difficult, as anything can and will happen before opening night. Using the entire organizational roster as a starting point, I have constructed what I think think the Pirates roster will look like.

The top line will consist of centre Jeff Nelson between wingers Mike Peluso and Matt Pettinger. Nelson is an offensive force for the Pirates and is a veteran leader among the forwards. Peluso has proved time and time again that he is top-line material and should once again be among the Pirates’ top scorers. Pettinger is a rookie, and would not normally be considered for the top line. However, the Pirates lost their top three left wingers in the off-season (Elomo, Moore, Toms) and are very thin at that position.
Read more»

Washington Capitals: The Next Generation

by Jeff Charlesworth
on
Last week we looked at the rookies that might be in Washington this season. This week, I would like to show you all the first-year pros in the Capitals organization, and where they fit in.

Most of these players will be assigned to the Capitals top farm club: the AHL Portland Pirates. All of them have the potential to be NHLers someday, and the Caps will be watching their development very closely.

Matt Pettinger

Pettinger is one of three 2000 draftees that are expected to turn pro immediately for the Caps. The scouting staff thought so highly of him that they traded up to select him. Although he is considered more of a defensive player, he does have some offensive ability. Due to the Capitals lack of depth on the wings at the minor-league level, he should be Portland’s first or second-line left winger. Depending on who he gets paired with, he could put up some decent offensive numbers.

Krys Barch

Barch truly impressed the coaches in his brief tryout at the end of last season. He had not played up to his full potential during his junior career, and was in danger of falling down the depth chart. He will be in tough to earn one of the top line positions, but the opportunity is there. The Capitals have always felt that Krys has enormous potential, and now is his chance to show it. The organization’s weakest position is left wing, and he can rise quickly if he plays well.

Stephen Peat
Read more»

Capitals Rookie Class of 2000

by Jeff Charlesworth
on
With training camp less than a month away, the Capitals’ roster is falling into place. It looks like Coach Ron Wilson is bringing back the same team as last season – with a couple of veteran additions. However, the opportunity is there for some rookies to gain a spot in the lineup, just as Jeff Halpern and Glen Metropolit did last year. So with that in mind, I present the five Caps rookies that could be playing in the NHL in 2000-01.


Kris Beech – centre (age 19) 98-99: Calgary Hitmen (WHL)

Kris is hoping to follow the lead set by Jeff Halpern a year ago. Last season, Halpern won the fourth-line centre position during training camp and was eased into full-time duties. Beech is being projected as the Caps star forward for the future, and he is ready to play now. Another season in junior would not help him at this stage, and the Capitals expect him to make the team. Kris is currently skating at the Canadian WJC team tryout camp and is a good bet to make the final roster. The Caps would most likely let him play in the tournament, as the big game experience would help his development. His vision and speed make him an excellent set-up man, but he would not be paired with linemates who have a lot of scoring ability at first.


Alexei Tezikov – defense (age 22) 98-99: Portland Pirates (AHL)
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Washington Capitals: 2005

by Jeff Charlesworth
on
If you’re anything like me, you’ve been waiting for a Capitals youth movement for years. Caps management constantly bring in veterans instead of promoting some of the deserving youngsters in the minor leagues. Since you’re reading this on a site called Hockey’s Future, I can pretty much assume you feel the same way.

It will probably be a few years before we see our current group of prospects in the NHL. The veterans would leave gradually, with one or two young replacements per season. So let’s fast forward to 2005 to see what the lineup could look like, if we went with a group of players that would even be considered young five years from now.

The first thing to do is eliminate any player who will be 30 years of age or older on Opening Day 2000. The biggest names from that group of players are: Adam Oates, Peter Bondra, Calle Johansson and Vezina Trophy winner Olaf Kolzig. They would all be at least 35 years old by 2005, and would not fit in with the youth movement. Next, we have to determine what other players won’t be around five years from now. For various reasons, I decided to exclude Glen Metropolit, Andrei Nikolishin, Chris Simon and Ken Klee. They would all be over 30 by then, and I figured that they would be traded or leave via Free Agency before 2005.
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Washington prospects head to summer camp

by Jeff Charlesworth
on
Even though it’s the middle of summer, Washington’s prospects have already started the new season. From July 17th to 28th, the Caps held a summer mini-camp to help their young players get ready for training camp. Nineteen top prospects gathered at Piney Orchard Ice Rink in Odenton, Maryland to practice under the guidance of the NHL coaching staff.

More important than impressing the management, was the chance to learn several new techniques and skills. Nutritional counselling, boxing and jujitsu were on the schedule for the two week camp. It was all about making the players into more complete athletes and getting them better prepared for the long season. The boxing and jujitsu were not introduced to teach fighting skills, but to improve conditioning, balance and on-ice awareness.

Last year’s camp was the launching pad for Jeff Halpern’s sensational rookie season, and this time around it was Alexei Tezikov and Kris Beech who are looking to get a head start. A sprained ankle kept Beech out of the first week of camp, which consisted of daily workouts with Strength and Conditioning Coach Frank Costello. However, once the skating portion started, Beech was ready to go. Halpern himself opted to take part in the camp as well – as he couldn’t wait to begin the season.
Read more»

Capitals name new ECHL affiliate

by Jeff Charlesworth
on
The Washington Capitals announced their new East Coast Hockey League affiliate today – the Richmond Renegades. This move was necessary after the Caps’ former ECHL team, the Hampton Roads Admirals, moved to the AHL and signed a developmental agreement with the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Renegades were recently sold to a group called the Richmond Sports Partners, that included local investors as well as the Capitals and San Jose Sharks. Richmond was without an affiliation last season, but previously worked with San Jose, Carolina and the Islanders.

The Capitals organization will send up to five players to Richmond during the season for additional development. Some of the players that may spend time there are Goaltender Rastislav Stana and Defensemen Gerad Adams, Nathan Forster and Mike Siklenka.

This move also allows the Capitals management to keep a closer watch on their prospects, as Richmond is only 98 miles away from DC – 45 miles closer than the Admirals were. The Renegades will be led by Head Coach Mark Kaufman and his assistant – former Capital Rod Langway.

Also announced was an exhibition game to be played at the 11,088 seat Richmond Coliseum. The Capitals will be at the Freezer on Saturday September 23rd to take on the New York Islanders.

Prospect Profile: Alexei Tezikov

by Jeff Charlesworth
on
Although Washington seems intent on icing a veteran lineup in 2000-01, there is a possibility that some rookies will be given the chance to earn a spot on the roster. Some of the names mentioned include: 1999 first-rounder Kris Beech, newly-acquired defensemen Stephen Peat and Remi Royer and 28-year old Swedish blueliner Bjorn Nord. However, the prospect with the best shot at sticking with the Capitals is Alexei Tezikov.

Tezikov was acquired at the trading deadline in March 1999 from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Joe Juneau and a switch of draft picks. The Sabres were looking to bolster their team for a run at the Stanley Cup, and figured Juneau was the missing piece. The Caps insisted on including Tezikov in the deal, as Chief Scout Ross Mahoney remembered Alexei from his days on the Buffalo scouting staff. The story of Alexei’s journey from talented nobody to the next big thing for the Capitals involves a lot of moves in a very short time.

Even though Alexei had been named the Russian Junior League’s best defenseman twice, he was not rated by Central Scouting Bureau in his draft year of 1996. The Sabres were impressed enough to select him in the 5th round (115th overall). The following season, he decided to stay in Russia and played for both Nizhny Novgorod and his hometown team of Lada Togliatti.
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Capitals trade Baumgartner for Royer

by Jeff Charlesworth
on
It was bound to happen eventually. Former first round pick Nolan Baumgartner just wasn’t a part of the Capitals future anymore. After Nolan’s contract expired at the end of the season, there didn’t seem to be much reason to re-sign him.

Capitals’ GM George McPhee traded Baumgartner to the Blackhawks for defenseman Remi Royer in an exchange of headaches. Chicago fans had made Royer a target after watching him make several mistakes in his brief NHL stint in 1998. Both these players seem to hold a wealth of potential, but neither has put it together enough to secure a job in the big leagues.

The Capitals have made it their mission to acquire more toughness this off-season. They started by trading for defenseman Stephen Peat, and drafted Ryan VanBuskirk a month later. Two weeks ago, they brought back a familiar face by signing Free Agent Craig Berube. Now, with this deal for Royer, the Caps are certainly a tougher team – but it remains to be seen if they are better.

The Capitals main problem now seems to be an abundance of defenseman. They currently have 15 blueliners under contract, and two more ready to turn pro, in Bjorn Nord and Ryan VanBuskirk. Added to that are their three Restricted Free Agents: Sergei Gonchar, Ken Klee and Brendan Witt. With NHL teams carrying seven defensemen and AHL teams employing eight, the Caps have to find a place for the five extra defensemen to play.
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Time to let Baumgartner go

by Jeff Charlesworth
on
Unless you’ve been a Capitals fan for about five or six years, you would think that Nolan Baumgartner is just another minor league defenseman that never made it. To those following the Caps in 1994, Baumgartner was the potential cornerstone of our defense corps and future star. After four years of minor pro without breaking through to the NHL full-time, it seems that he won’t live up to the expectations heaped upon him. Since he is a Free Agent this off-season, it may be time to consider letting him leave to continue his career elsewhere.

Earlier this season, Washington GM George McPhee traded away Alexandre Volchkov and Jaroslav Svejkovsky – first round picks from 1996. Capitals fans were outraged, and they wondered how he could give up on two good, young players. Last month at the Entry Draft, McPhee dealt 1995 first-rounder Miika Elomo to Calgary. Although many fans were skeptical about the deal, they didn’t take it as hard as the previous trades. McPhee has been able to make those trades without losing face because it was David Poile who drafted those players and tabbed them as future stars. Now the time has come to part ways with Baumgartner, even though he was once seen as a “can’t miss” prospect.
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Scott Stevens trade revisited

by Jeff Charlesworth
on
On July 13th 1990, Capitals GM David Poile decided not to match the St. Louis Blues’ Free Agent contract offer to defenseman Scott Stevens. As compensation for their loss, the Capitals received first-round picks in 1991 through 1995. The players selected by the Capitals were: Trevor Halverson, Sergei Gonchar, Brendan Witt, Nolan Baumgartner and Miika Elomo. Now, 10 years later (and with the benefit of hindsight), it is up to us to decide if Poile made the right move.


About a month ago, I wrote an article detailing the situation and the decision that David Poile made. I asked the readers of Hockey’s Future to write in and let their opinions be known on the subject. Well, the votes are in – and an overwhelming 75% of you said that you would not trade Stevens for the five players listed above.


A lot of Capitals fans think that this “trade” is a black mark on the organization. It seems that most of the public feels the same way. Here are some of the comments against letting Stevens go:


“I would not make the deal unless I was an expansion team looking for a bunch of young blue-liners.”


“When trading a player of Stevens’ calibre, you have to get more than what essentially is two NHL starters, Witt (solid, but unspectacular) and Gonchar (second tier defensive star).”


“Poile did well to get Baumer, Gonch and Witt, but with Stevens here, he wouldn’t have needed to make at least two of those picks (Witt and Baumer).”

Read more»

Washington Capitals Off-Season Preview

by Jeff Charlesworth
on
The Capitals have already had a busy off-season, but the biggest moves are yet to come. Many of the changes so far have affected the minor league system, leaving the NHL roster intact. However, with six big-name Restricted Free Agents and the potential for some blockbuster trades very soon – the Caps could have a different look for 2000-01.

As with the rest of the league, the Capitals had to sign their 1998 draft picks by June 1st or lose the rights to them. George McPhee got things started early by signing collegiate defenseman Michael Farrell in March. Then, right at the deadline, the Caps came to terms with Krys Barch, Nathan Forster and Rastislav Stana. They are all expected to play minor pro next season, and the Caps have high hopes for all of them. This meant that the remaining 1998 draft picks: Goaltender Jomar Cruz, Forwards Blake Evans and Todd Hornung re-entered the 2000 draft. None of them were selected, and they will look for Free Agent deals during the summer.
Read more»

Washington Capitals 2000 Draft in Review

by Jeff Charlesworth
on
The Washington Capitals surprised no one with the players they selected early on in the 2000 Entry Draft. The top three selections all came from the Western Hockey League, where the Caps have gone for several high picks before. The unexpected moves came when the Capitals made four trades involving nine draft picks and one player – 1995 first-rounder Miika Elomo. Elomo had survived Friday’s expansion draft and was expected to make the jump to the NHL next season.

In the first round (26th overall), they chose Brian Sutherby from Moose Jaw. He is a two-way center, and is very physical. The Caps needed more offensive forwards, but could not pass on Sutherby. He suffered a shoulder injury in November and missed some time. He plays a similar style to current Capital Jeff Halpern, but is a bit bigger.

With the first of their two second-round picks (43rd overall), the Capitals grabbed Matt Pettinger. He is a big winger who has some offensive ability. He left college mid-season to enter the WHL and scored seven goals in his first 12 games. He is the fourth member of the 1999-2000 Calgary Hitmen on the Capitals’ reserve list – joining Kris Beech, Rastislav Stana and
Stephen Peat.

The other second-round pick (61st overall) was used to select big defenseman Jakub Cutta from Swift Current. He is an stay-at-home defenseman but likes to carry the puck. He is originally from the Czech Republic, but has adjusted to the North American game very quickly.
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Capitals Look Back – Scott Stevens

by Jeff Charlesworth
on
Watching Scott Stevens raise his second Stanley Cup in five years was extremely painful for long-time Capitals fans. They remember that ten years ago, the Caps let him walk to St. Louis in the first big name – and arguably the largest ever – NHL Free Agent signing. The decision to let Stevens go has been widely criticized, but the Capitals had their reasons at the time. With the power of hindsight, we can look back and try to determine if the Capitals made the right choice.

Scott was the Capitals first round pick in 1982, 5th overall. By that fall, he was already patrolling the blueline in DC and became a force to be reckoned with. In 1990, he was part of a solid Caps defence corps that also featured Rod Langway, Kevin Hatcher and Calle Johansson. Although he was only 26 years old, Scott was an 8-year NHL veteran and 2-time All-Star. The Blues offered to pay him what was considered an obscene amount at that time: $5.1 million over 4 years. In comparison, eight days earlier in Major League Baseball, Jose Canseco and the Oakland Athletics agreed to a 5 year contract worth $23.5 million.
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Washington Capitals Entry Draft Preview

by Jeff Charlesworth
on

George McPhee and the Washington Capitals enter the 2000 entry draft without the luxury of
multiple high selections like they did a year ago. It would be difficult to beat last year’s
effort anyway, as the Class of 1999 looks as though they will make a huge impact on the future in
DC. Not including the “Top 5″, in which the Caps chose five of the first 37 players, McPhee
uncovered a gem in the fifth round by the name of Roman Tvrdon – who had possibly the best
season of any Capitals prospect. He also found two promising defensemen in the later rounds:
David Johansson and Igor Shadilov. If he can continue his success of selecting quality players
in the later rounds, the Capitals should make this draft a success as well.

The Capitals will select 26th in the first round, and have ten selections in all. They traded
their third-rounder to Colorado in the Dale Hunter deal, and their fourth to Anaheim for Stephen
Peat. They also sent their seventh-round selection to Chicago in return for a late pick which
they used to select Shadilov a year ago. The Caps gain a compensatory fourth-round pick as the
“Future Considerations” from the Joe Juneau trade. They also receive Tampa Bay’s seventh-round
pick as part of the Jaroslav Svejkovsky deal, Calgary’s seventh-rounder in return for Tom
Chorske, and an eighth-round pick from New Jersey for Ken Sutton.

There are a few trends that McPhee seems to have shown in his three drafts so far. First of Read more»

Capitals Draft Look Back – 1996

by Jeff Charlesworth
on

With the entry draft on the horizon, and the Capitals coming off what might be their best draft ever, I thought I would take a look back at what is considered the Caps’ worst draft of the 1990s. In 1996, Washington had twelve picks – including seven of the top 100. Not only that, but there was an NHL-calibre player on the board every time their turn came up. Now, just four years later, they have only one player to show for it.

This season the Capitals dealt former first round picks Alexandre Volchkov to Edmonton and Jaroslav Svejkovsky to Tampa Bay. That left the Capitals with young centre Jan Bulis as the only player under contract from their entire 1996 draft.

Washington held all of their picks 1 through 9 except the 4th rounder (98th) that they traded to Colorado for Anson Carter. They had acquired four extra selections through trades: L.A.’s 1st (4th overall ) and Dallas’ 4th (85th) from the Kings in exchange for Byron Dafoe and Dimitri Khristich; Dallas’ 3rd (58th) from Colorado for John Slaney; and Chicago’s 4th (74th) for Igor Ulanov.

Let’s take a look at the selections that David Poile and the Washington Capitals made in 1996, and try to determine what they were thinking on draft day and where they went wrong.


RW Alexandre Volchkov 6’1″ 194 – Barrie Colts (OHL)

(1st round, 4th overall – originally Los Angeles’ pick)

C.S.B. Ranking: 2nd, North American skaters

Actually drafted: 3rd N.A. skater taken
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Washington Capitals Update

by Jeff Charlesworth
on
On June 1st, the Capitals announced the signings of 1998 draft picks Krys Barch (4th round, 106th overall), Nathan Forster (7th round, 179th overall) and Rastislav Stana (7th round, 193rd overall). These signings prevented them from re-entering the 2000 entry draft. With the signings of Michael Farrell (8th round, 220th overall) after the season and Mike Siklenka (5th round, 118th overall) last off-season, the Capitals only lost three players to re-entry.

Goaltender Jomar Cruz (2nd round, 49th overall), as well as forwards Todd Hornung (3rd round, 59th overall) and Blake Evans (9th round, 251st overall) have all re-entered the 2000 draft. However, none of them are expected to be re-drafted and will try to work out free agent deals after the draft.

The Capitals also announced that they have acquired defenseman Stephen Peat from the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in exchange for a 2000 fourth-round pick. Peat was unable to come to terms with the Ducks and was going to re-enter the draft. The Capitals were able to sign him before the deadline and he will attend training camp in the fall. Peat was the Ducks’ 2nd round pick in 1998 (32nd overall) and is one of the WHL’s most feared enforcers.

Interview with Capitals Prospect Nathan Forster

by Jeff Charlesworth
on


Nathan Forster is a defenseman for the Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) and a 1998 Washington Capitals draft pick. He just
completed his fourth season in Seattle, and should be ready to turn pro next season.


I want to thank Nathan for taking the time to answer my questions, and I would especially like to thank Peter Forster for his help
in making this possible.


Q: What would you be doing if you weren’t a hockey player?

A: If I wasn’t playing I would be going to school and fishing and golfing everyday.


Q: What do you do during the offseason?

A: During the off-season I hit the gym everyday in the morning and have the rest of the day to fish or golf or just relax.


Q: Do you have any game day superstitions?

A: I don’t have any game day superstitions.


Q: What is the greatest moment of your career so far?

A: My greatest memory so far in my hockey career was being drafted to the Caps and also playing in the WHL finals against
Lethbridge in 1997.


Q: Did you expect to be drafted higher in 1998?

A: I didn’t expect much going into the draft because I didn’t have the best year my draft year. I was just happy to be drafted and
knew that this is only the first step to becoming a pro.


Q: What type of player do you describe yourself as?
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Washington Capitals Expansion Draft Preview

by Jeff Charlesworth
on

Due to the depth throughout the Washington Capitals organization, they will most likely lose a
talented player in the upcoming expansion draft. However, because the Caps have quite a few
Free Agents, the players that Columbus and Minnesota may be interested in will not necessarily
be under contract for next season. In this latest round of expansion, the Capitals have lost a
young player with potential (Andrew Brunette – Nashville ’98) and an unsigned veteran (Mark
Tinordi – Atlanta ’99). Although both players were missed in DC, they were not irreplaceable;
this season is very similar in that the Caps will not be crippled by any selection the Wild and
Blue Jackets make.

Let’s get the eligibility criteria out of the way first, and all first and second year pros
are exempt. That means that twelve players in the Capitals organization do not have to be
protected: Forwards Jeff Halpern, Matt Herr, Mike Peluso and Trent Whitfield, Defensemen
Michael Farrell, J.F. Fortin, Steve Shirreffs, Mike Siklenka, Dean Stork, Scott Swanson and
Alexei Tezikov, and Goaltender Curtis Cruickshank. The Capitals also have thirteen Unrestricted and Minor League Free Agents, and since unsigned players are of little value to the expansion clubs, they will
all probably be left unprotected. They include: Forwards Mike Eagles, Trevor Halverson, Jim
McKenzie, Barrie Moore, Ryan Mulhern, Joe Murphy, Joe Sacco, and Jeff Toms, Defensemen Patrick Read more»

Washington Capitals End Of Season Prospect Report (Goaltenders)

by Jeff Charlesworth
on

Welcome to the fifth and final edition of my positional reviews of the Washington Capitals
prospects. Today I will give you all the info you need on the goaltenders.

GOALTENDERS



Rastislav Stana – Calgary Hitmen (WHL)

Stana turned some heads with his performance this season. He had done well last year, but
showed the potential to be a number one goalie down the line in the second half of this year. He
started the season playing for the Moose Jaw Warriors, but was dealt to the number-one ranked
Hitmen at the trading deadline. As good as the numbers he put up in the regular season were, he
absolutely shone in the playoffs. Rastislav must be signed in the off-season or he will re-enter
this year’s draft. The Capitals might take the rarely used route of signing him and returning
him to junior.

                       GP  GAA  W-L-T   SV% SO
MooseJaw/Calgary (WHL) 30 3.00 17-11-1 .908 1
WHL PLAYOFFS            9 2.40  7-2-0  .911 1


Martin Brochu – Portland Pirates (AHL)

The only things Martin didn’t do this year were: solve world hunger and bring peace to the
Middle East. In one of the most spectacular seasons in recent memory, Brochu won: AHL All-Star
Game MVP, AHL Top Goaltender, AHL MVP and Portland MVP. The only down note of the season was an
injury late in the year that kept him out during the stretch drive and seriously affected his Read more»

Washington Capitals End Of Season Prospect Report (Defensemen)

by Jeff Charlesworth
on

In the latest installment of my look into the past, present and future of the Capitals’
prospects, I take on the daunting task of dissecting the defensemen.

DEFENSEMEN



Alexei Tezikov – Portland Pirates (AHL)

This was not the season that everyone expected for Alexei after showing so much promise at the
end of last year. He put up good numbers and proved that he can play in the big leagues, but was
blocked at the NHL level by a veteran defense corps. Making things worse was a broken foot that
caused him to miss the playoffs, which could have been a chance to showcase himself. Even though
he is still somewhat inexperienced, he is being counted on to play full time in Washington next
season. The Caps will make room for him as they badly want to establish another young defenseman
in DC.

                 GP  G  A PTS PIM +/-
Portland (AHL)   53  6  9 15  65  12
Washington (NHL) 23  1  1  2   2  -2


Ross Lupaschuk – Red Deer Rebels (WHL)

This has been an eventful season for Ross, as he has moved around a bit. He was invited to try
out for Canada’s National Junior Team, but was a late cut. He started the season playing in
Prince Albert but was traded to Red Deer mid-season in a blockbuster deal, giving him a chance
to be a number one defenseman. He flourished on the Rebels, finishing third in scoring and Read more»

Washington Capitals End Of Season Prospect Report (Right Wingers)

by Jeff Charlesworth
on

Another day, another group of players to be picked apart. This time we will look at the right
wingers in the Capitals organization as we try to determine what the future holds for the Caps.

RIGHT WINGERS



Matthew Herr – Portland Pirates (AHL)

Matt spent the entire season in Portland after shuffling back and forth between the NHL and AHL
in his rookie year. He had a good offensive year -scoring 22 goals – but more importantly, he
had the time to work on rounding out his game. He will be given the opportunity to win a job in
training camp next year, and should be able to secure a third or fourth line winger spot. Matt
is an RFA this summer, but because of his limited NHL experience, he won’t get many significant
offers.

               GP  G A PTS PIM +/-
Portland (AHL) 77 22 21 43  51  12
AHL PLAYOFFS    4  1  1  2   4  -4


Roman Tvrdon – Spokane Chiefs (WHL)

Roman is quite possibly the biggest surprise of the season among the Capitals’ prospects. He
was a complete unknown on draft day and was assigned to Spokane to start the year. Not only did
he play outstanding two-way hockey, but he won the WHL rookie scoring race. His success is
carrying into the post-season as the Chiefs have made it to the WHL finals. Depending on the
direction the Capitals take in the off-season, Roman could get a chance to compete for a NHL job
in training camp.
 Read more»

Washington Capitals End Of Season Prospect Report (Left Wingers)

by Jeff Charlesworth
on

Today, I continue my analysis of the Capitals’ prospects with a look at the left wingers. Each
day this week I will bring you my take on the Caps depth chart position-by-position.

LEFT WINGERS



Miika Elomo – Portland Pirates (AHL)

Miika finally decided to stay in North America this season after moving back and forth to
Finland the past few years. The new dedication paid off, with a fast start to the season,
leading the AHL in goals for a while and getting the call for his first NHL game. Injuries
bothered him throughout the year and caused him to miss the All-Star Game – which he had been
selected to play in – and the playoffs. Miika made enough progress this season to be considered
for an NHL job next year.

                 GP G  A PTS PIM +/-
Portland (AHL)   59 21 14 35  48  -9
Washington (NHL)  2  0  1  1   2   1


Jeff Toms – Portland Pirates (AHL)

Jeff continued his act of Jekyll & Hyde this season, showing flashes of brilliance, but
disappearing just when you thought he had turned it around. He bounced back and forth between
Portland and Washington, putting up big numbers in the AHL but struggling when called up to D.C.
With the Capitals starting to amass depth at the forward positions, Jeff is slipping further and
further away from a full-time NHL job. He will be a free agent in the off-season, and may get Read more»

Washington Capitals End Of Season Prospect Report (Centers)

by Jeff Charlesworth
on

Now that the Capitals have made their annual early exit from the playoffs, its time to look
back at the season that was. This week I will go in-depth on the Capitals’ prospects
position-by-position and see how the did this past season and what we can expect from them in
the future.

CENTRES



Kris Beech – Calgary Hitmen (WHL)

A lot was expected from Kris – the Capitals’ first round pick in last year’s draft – this
season and he did not disappoint. He finished third in team scoring and was selected to play in
the WHL All-Star Game. The same criticisms remain however – he is too skinny and somewhat
injury-prone. That was reinforced during the playoffs when he broke his finger in the first
round, causing him to miss seven games. If the Caps go on a youth movement this off-season, Kris
will be one of the rookies counted on to make the jump to the NHL.

              GP G  A PTS PIM +/-
Calgary (WHL) 66 32 54 86  99 25
PLAYOFFS       5  3  5  8  16  0


Michal Sivek – Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)

Michal was a bit of a wild card when this season began. He was entering his first season of
North American hockey and no one knew how he would hold up. But this year would have to be
considered a success for Michal. He finished tied for third in WHL rookie scoring, and helped
the Czech Republic to a Gold Medal at the WJC. His play is still a bit inconsistent and unless Read more»

Washington Capitals Prospect Report – Playoff Edition

by Jeff Charlesworth
on

Hello and welcome to the latest Washington Capitals Prospect Update. Today I will give you
up-to-date playoff statistics on all of the players on the top 50 list as well as their final
regular season stats.

In what has to be described as an incredible disappointment, both the Capitals and the AHL
Portland Pirates suffered first-round upsets in the playoffs this season. The Capitals won their
division and finished second in the Eastern Conference, but were beaten by the seventh seeded
Pittsburgh Penguins in five games. Portland finished second in their division and third overall
but lost to the Worcester IceCats three games to one.

Not all is lost for the Capitals prospects, however. There are four players still alive in
post-season play. Scott Swanson and Houston (IHL) start their playoffs tonight, while in the WHL
- Calgary (Kris Beech & Rastislav Stana) and Spokane (Roman Tvrdon) are currently playing in
separate semi-final matches. The ECHL’s Hampton Roads Admirals lost their best-of-five
quarterfinal to Trenton last night, 3 games to 2.

Misc. Notes: Three players on the top 50 list missed the post-season, all due to injury:
Forwards Miika Elomo (shoulder) and Trevor Halverson (concussion) as well as Defenseman Alexei
Tezikov (broken foot). Forward Kris Beech suffered a broken finger early on in Calgary’s playoff
run, but should be back soon. So far, only two Capitals prospects have won their league Read more»

Washington Capitals Prospect Report

by Jeff Charlesworth
on

Hello and welcome to the latest Capitals Prospect Update. In addition to all the news and notes, I will give you up-to-date stats on all of the players on the top 50 list.


The Portland Pirates (AHL) have finished their regular season with a record of 46-23-10 placing them second in the New England Division behind Hartford (N.Y.R.). Portland starts the playoffs on Wednesday against Worcester (St.Louis). Goaltender Martin Brochu completed his amazing season by being named team MVP, the AHL’s top goaltender and AHL league MVP. The Pirates will have to start the post-season without leading scorer Glen Metropolit, who will make a run for the Stanley Cup with the Capitals.


The Hampton Roads Admirals (ECHL) have started their playoffs with a first round series against Huntington. They are up 2-1 in the best of five series, with game 4 going tonight. The Admirals have five players on loan from Portland: Forward Mike Omicioli, Defensemen Gerad Adams, Mike Siklenka and Dean Stork, as well as Goaltender Curtis Cruickshank.


The NCAA held their “Frozen Four” final tournament last week and Boston College (Kevin Caulfield) lost the finals to North Dakota 4-2. The IHL Houston Aeros (Scott Swanson) finish the regular season next week, and should make the Western Conference Wild Card series. In the OHL, Guelph (Charlie Stephens) lost their first round series to Plymouth 4-2, while London (Krys Barch) missed the post-season.

Read more»

Washington Capitals Prospect Report

by Jeff Charlesworth
on

Hello and welcome to the latest Capitals Prospect Update. In addition to all the news and
notes, I will give you up-to-date stats on all of the players on the top 50 list.



The Portland Pirates continued to slide after sitting atop the AHL for a couple of months.
Their record stands at 40-20-9 (90 pts.) and puts them 4 points behind Hartford (N.Y.R.) in the
divisional race and for the overall lead. The Pirates have clinched a playoff spot however, and
will start the post season in a couple of weeks. Leading scorer Glen Metropolit is back with
the Capitals, but may be back down to the AHL for the playoffs. The Pirates have six players
assigned to Hampton Roads (ECHL): Forwards Mike Omicioli and Mike Siklenka, Defensemen Gerad
Adams, Steve Shirreffs and Dean Sork, and Goaltender Curtis Cruickshank – who are all in their
first professional season.



The season is over for some of the Capitals’ North American prospects, as the College league
playoffs have finished. Princeton (Chris Corrinet) and Harvard (Kyle Clark) lost in the first
round of the ECAC playoffs. In the Hockey East playoffs, Providence (Michael Farrell) lost in
the first round and Boston College (Kevin Caulfield) made it to the finals but lost to Maine.
Finally, Minnesota (Erik Wendell) lost in the semi-finals of the WCHA tournament. In the OHL,
London (Krys Barch) missed the post-season, losing the last playoff berth to Guelph (Charlie Read more»

Washington Capitals Prospect Report

by Jeff Charlesworth
on

Hello and welcome to my latest Capitals Prospect Update. I will give you all the latest news and
up-to-date statistics on all of the players on the top 50 list.



The Portland Pirates struggled a bit this week and stand at 39-19-9 (88 points). Hartford
(N.Y.R.) has caught them in their own division, and they now sit tied for first overall in the
AHL – with Hartford holding a game in hand. The Pirates are without Glen Metropolit and Alexei
Tezikov who are currently playing in the NHL. The Pirates also have five players assigned to
Hampton Roads (ECHL): forwards Mike Omicioli and Mike Siklenka, defensemen Gerad Adams and Dean
Stork, and goaltender Curtis Cruickshank.



The CHL regular seasons are almost over, and most of the playoff spots have been clinched
already. In the OHL, Guelph (Charlie Stephens) and London (Krys Barch) are fighting for the last
spot and it would take a miracle for London to get in. Guelph has a seven point lead with five
games to play.
It looks like all of the Capitals’ WHL prospects will be in post-season play this year. Calgary
(Kris Beech & Rastislav Stana), Swift Current (Todd Hornung), Spokane (Roman Tvrdon), Seattle
(Nathan Forster), Tri-City (Jomar Cruz & Blake Evans) and Kelowna (David Johansson & Nolan
Yonkman) have all clinched playoff spots. Red Deer (Ross Lupaschuk) and Prince Albert (Michal
Sivek) are in good shape right now, being nine and six points respectively ahead of ninth-place Read more»

Washington Capitals Prospect Report

by Jeff Charlesworth
on

Hello and welcome to my latest Capitals Prospect Update. I will give you all the latest news and up-to-date statistics on all of the players on the top 50 list.



The Portland Pirates are still sitting atop the AHL right now, with only a little over a month until the playoffs begin. Their record stands at 37-17-9 which totals 84 points and places them first overall. They are followed closely by Hartford (N.Y. Rangers) in their own division who are only 5 points back. The Pirates are still without Alexei Tezikov – who is in the NHL, and have five players assigned to Hampton Roads (ECHL): forwards Mike Omicioli and Mike Siklenka, and defensemen Gerad Adams, Steve Shirreffs and Dean Stork.



It is getting near playoff time in the CHL, and the Capitals will be well represented. In the OHL, it looks like a three-way battle for the last playoff spot with ten games to go. Charlie Stephens (Guelph) and Krys Barch (London) will be battling each other and Owen Sound to get to the post-season.


Most of the Caps junior players are in the WHL, and a lot of them are headed to the playoffs. Kris Beech and Rastislav Stana (Calgary), Todd Hornung (Swift Current), Roman Tvrdon (Spokane) and Nathan Forster (Seattle) have all clinched playoff spots. While Ross Lupaschuk (Red Deer) and Michal Sivek (Prince Albert) are as good as in. Tri-City (Jomar Cruz and Blake Evans) and Kelowna (David Johansson and Nolan Yonkman) are going to have to fight to make it, but hopefully they can pull it off.

Read more»

Washington Capitals Prospect Report

by Jeff Charlesworth
on

Hello and welcome to my latest Capitals Prospect Update. I will give you all the latest news and up-to-date statistics on all of the players on the top 50 list.



The Portland Pirates are still rolling along full steam ahead. Their record stands at 32-14-9 (73 pts.) which puts them first overall in the AHL, four points ahead of Kentucky (San Jose) who have played one more game. Portland will be without Alexei Tezikov for a while as he has been recalled to the NHL. The Pirates currently have five players assigned to Hampton Roads (ECHL): forwards Mike Omicioli and Mike Siklenka, as well as defensemen Gerad Adams, Steve Shirreffs and Dean Stork.


Misc. Notes: The Capitals continued to restructure their minor league system by trading forward Alexandre Volchkov to the Edmonton Oilers for a third or fourth round pick in 2001 (depending on how he performs). The Washington scouting staff feels that the 2001 draft is very deep, and are stockpiling picks. There are only two major injuries in the Capitals’ system at the moment: forward Trevor Halverson has missed the entire season so far with a concussion, while defenseman Nathan Forster has sat out the past few weeks with a thigh contusion.


A++ players – performing above and beyond the call of duty.


5. Jason Shmyr: impressive numbers for this tough guy.

4. Patrick Boileau: +16 rating leads Portland.

3. Alexei Tezikov: earned his way back into the NHL.
Read more»

Washington Capitals Prospect Report

by pbadmin
on
Hello and welcome to my latest Capitals Prospect Update. I will give you all the latest news and up-to-date statistics on all of the players on the top 50 list.

At the AHL All-Star game, the Capitals had three players involved. Forward Mike Peluso was a last minute substitution, while goaltender Martin Brochu and forward Alexandre Volchkov also participated. During the skills competition, Volchkov won the accuracy contest, hitting all four targets in only seven shots. Brochu was outstanding during the whole weekend, stopping all ten shots in the ambush competition, and winning the MVP for the game itself. Forward Miika Elomo, who had been previously invited, was unable to play because of injury.

The major junior leagues also held their All-Star games recently. Forward Krys Barch (London) was selected to the OHL game, and collected one assist. Forwards Kris Beech (Calgary), Blake Evans (Tri-City) and Michal Sivek (Prince Albert) were invited to participate for the WHL. During the game, Beech scored two goals and one assist, while Sivek picked up an assist. In the skills competition, Sivek finished second in the fastest skater event – completing the lap in 14.72 seconds.
Read more»

Washington Capitals Prospect Report

by pbadmin
on
Welcome to the first of my bi-weekly reports on the Washington Capitals prospects. In addition to giving you up-to-date statistics on all of the players on the top-fifty list, I will let you know what’s going on with the Portland Pirates and all of the latest news.

The World Junior Championships ended recently, and the Capitals had three players involved. Forward Michal Sivek played for the Gold Medal winning Czech Republic. He scored three goals and six points in seven games, and collected a +4 rating. Goaltender Rastislav Stana was a member of the disappointing Slovakian team. He played in four of their seven games, and posted a 2.35 goals-against average (7th in the tournament) and a .927 save percentage (6th in the tornament). Defenseman Igor Shadilov earned a Silver Medal with the Russian team. He played in seven games, scoring one goal and sporting a +7, which was twelfth best in the tournament.
Read more»

Unlikely Rookies Contributing to Capitals

by pbadmin
on
They’ve been hearing it all their lives: “You’re too small”, “You haven’t scored enough”, “Undrafted players never make it to the NHL”. Well, don’t look now, but Glen Metropolit and Jeff Halpern are doing just fine, thank you very much. They may have taken different paths to get here, but they are living out their dreams that seemed out of reach for so long.

At the start of last season, Metropolit and Halpern were wondering when and if their NHL careers would ever start. One year later, they were standing on the ice at the National Car Rental Center in Miami on opening night wearing their Capitals uniforms. Metropolit began last year with the IHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins without an NHL contract. It was his second year with the Griffins, and his fourth pro season during which he had played for five different teams. Halpern was playing out his senior season at Princeton University, and although there was interest from NHL clubs, he was prohibited from signing a contract until he had graduated. But by the end of the 98-99 season, both had come to terms with the Caps, and were playing in the AHL with the Portland Pirates. Glen played in twelve games, scoring five goals and eight points, while Jeff suited up for six games – scoring two goals and three points.
Read more»

Capitals Update

by pbadmin
on
Prospect News:

June 30, 1999 Washington does not pick up the option on the following copntracts: Mike Rosati G, Kelly Miller RW, Brian Bellows RW.

July 7, 1999 Signed D/LW Mike Siklenka, the team’s fifth-round pick (118th overall) in 1998.

August 9, 1999 Signed D Jamie Huscroft, as a free agent.

August 18, 1999 Traded Beniot Gratton C to Calgary for D Steve Shirreffs.

August 19, 1999 Washington resigns G Martin Brochu.

Washington Capital Top 25 Prospects:

rank name (position) size age (DOB) 98-99 location
1. Kris Beach – C 6-2 178 18 (2/5/81) Calgary (WHL)
2. Alexei Tezikov – D 6-1 197 21 (3/2/78) Rochester (AHL) /
Cincinnati (IHL)

3. Scott Swanson – D 6-2 190 24 (2/22/75) Colorado College (WCHA)
4. Nolan Baumgartner – D 6-1 200 23 (3/23/76) Portland (AHL)
5. Matt Herr – LW 6-1 180 23 (5/26/99) Portland (AHL)
6. Michal Sivek – C 6-3 209 18 (1/28/81) Trenic (Czech Rep.)
7. Charlie Stephens – C/RW 6-3 229 18 (4/5/81) Guelph (OHL)
8. Mike Siklenka – D/LW 6-4 215 19 (12/18/79) Seattle (WHL)
9. Curtis Cruickshank – G 6-2 209 20 (3/21/79) Kingston / Sarina (OHL)
10. J-F Fortin – D 6-2 190 20 (3/15/79) Sherbrooke (QMJHL)
11. Ratislav Stana – G 6-1 161 19 (n/a) Moose Jaw (WHL)
12. Patrick Bolieau – D 6-0 190 23 (2/25/76) Indianapolis (IHL) Read more»

Capitals Have the Future Makings of a Strong Defensive Corp

by pbadmin
on
The Washington Capitals may not have the best group of prospects in hockey anymore, but how can you blame them? The team has graduated some awful good talent in the past few years: Jan Bulis, Jaroslav Svejkowsky, Richard Zednik, and Brendan Witt. This past June, the Capital lost their top overall prospect in defensemen Nick Boynton to draft re-entry, however, the loss hasn’t been all that difficult to absorb, as the Capitals still have a very impressive group of prospects, especially on defense.

The Capitals were able to overcome the loss of Boynton when they were able to select five of the top thirty-seven players available in the 1999 draft. Drafting quality players like Kris Beech, Michal Sivek and Charlie Stephens certainly helped refresh the pool quickly, though none of the five players picked represent the defensive power they have.

The teams real quality though lies on the blueline. Prior to the 1999 draft, the group is so strong, and well rounded, that Washington decided not to over pay rookie 1997 first round pick, Nick Boynton. The two sides argued back and fourth before Washington gave up, trying to trade him just prior to the re-entry date. The ploy failed and Washington had to settle for a second round compensation pick.

Let’s look at Washington’s top six defensive prospects.
Read more»

Capital Secure Bright Future With Strong 1999 Draft

by pbadmin
on
The Washington Capitals didn’t waste much time replenishing their rather depleted prospect pool. With five of the top thirty-seven picks on Saturday, Washington was virtually guaranteed to come away with a strong group of players. The Capitals did not disappoint.

Once the calm had hit the Fleet Center, following the wild opening to the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, Washington just sat back and waited to see who the Islanders and Nashville would take. I’m pretty sure that, Capitals, General Manager, George McPhee was thrilled to see the player who many felt was the fifth best player (outside the universal elite four) still on the board.

Kris Beach must have been an easy choice for Washington. Though Kris is a bit on the thin side weighting only 178 pounds, but at 6-foot-2 he has room to grow. I’m sure the Capitals will find a way of beefing up this Western Hockey League star.

Beech is described as an explosive skater with a quick first step and a fluid stride. He is very agile and pivots either way equally well making it hard for opponents to hit him in open-ice. His play making skills are considered top end and his puckhandling may have been the best in the draft. Although he is on the thin side, Kris has shown a willingness to play along the wall and he gets into scoring position well. Though his offensive game is impressive, Beech is also a willing back- checker. He understands that the defensive end is important and he does what has to be done to stop an opponent.
Read more»

Capitals 1999 draft review

by pbadmin
on
The 1999 NHL Entry Draft has come and gone and the Washington Capitals did a very good job resupplying their prospects ranks. The Capitals had 5 of the top 37 picks in the draft, and all five of those were added to the new ranking.

I decided to include several players who finished the season with Washington, because none are guaranteed a roster spot next season. Those players are: Alexei Tezikov, Nolan Baumgartner, Matt Herr, Beniot Gratton and Patrick Bolieau.

Team Strength Team Weaknesses
- Strong goaltending depth – Little raw skill
- Lots of solid two-way defensemen – Little pure scoring depth
- Plenty of size and toughness – Lack of a pure #1
defensemen or goalie – Good speed


Prospect News:

June 21, 1999
Washington has acquired the rights to center Jeff Nelson from the Nashville Predators in exchange for future considerations. The club also announced it has signed Nelson to a two-year NHL contract. Nelson spent last season with Nashville and Milwaukee (IHL)

June 1, 1999
Washington was unable to work out a contract with 1997 draft pick Nick Boynton, he re-enter the 1999 draft and Boston picked him at #21 overall.

Jean-Luc Thieren (G) was not offered a contract, he also re-enters the draft, but goes unselected.

May 27, 1999
Curtis Cruickshank (G) is signed to a three year contract. Washington picks up the option year on Trevor Halverson’s (LW) contract.

May 19,1999 Read more»

Caps Look For Raw Sill Up Front

by pbadmin
on
The Washington Capital are in a solid spot for the 1999 NHL Draft. They will be selecting seventh overall and they appear as if they’ll have quite a few options when their pick comes up.

Washington, who has a strong group of prospects throughout their system but they seem to have exhausted their supply of high quality skilled forwards the last two years. Washington still has a lot of talent up front (though keeping it healthy is another major question mark). Players like Jan Bullis (21), Richard Zednik (23), Jaroslav Svejkowsky (22), Matt Herr (23), and Beniot Gratton (22) still haven’t come close to realizing their full potential, with latter two having more to prove that the former three.

However, much of Washington’s true prospect depth is on defense and in goalie. On the blueline, Washington has Nick Boynton (20) (still unsigned at the time of writing), Alexei Tezikov (21), Nolan Baumgartner (23), Jean-Francois Fortin (20)and the fast rising Mike Siklenka (19). These five players provide a full range of skills, from size and toughness, to raw skill.

In goal, The Caps have a ton of young talent: Curtis Cruickshank (20), Jomar Cruz (19), Radislav Stana (19), Pierre-Luc Therrien (20)and Sebastein Charpentier (22). Which one of these five is the best depends on who you talk to. I persoanlly love Therrien but from what I’ve read it seems like Washington is high on Cruz. Stana appears to have the biggest upside.
Read more»

Newest Capital Tezikov Still Faces Numbers Game

by pbadmin
on
On Tuesday, March 23, the NHL trade deadline came and went. For Alexei Tezikov, his career with the Buffalo Sabres organization came to an end not long after it began. Tezikov had only been contracted to the Sabres since January 3, 1999. He missed half of his rookie season due to a lengthy contract dispute with management, but once he arrived in Rochester, fans and management could see he was a very talent player.

One of the reasons the Sabres played hardball with the former 1996 5th round draft pick, was that they had a glut of quality defensive prospects (Cory Sarich, Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre, Jason Holland, Dmitri Kalinin, Brian Campbell, etc., etc.) and they knew that Tezikov, though a quality hockey player, was really not needed, so management refused to give much in the contract negotiations.

In Trading Tezikov the Sabres really don’t lose anything which they cannot replace. However, for Alexei the situation isn’t quite as a bright as he may have hoped. The reason I say this is fairly simple to understand. Washington, much like the Sabres, have a lot of quality prospects playing defense. Right now, the only real competition looks like Nolan Baumgartner. However next season, the Capitals will be bringing in three high quality players: Nick Boynton of the Ottawa 67′s (a former 1997 9th overall pick), Scott Swanson, and Jean-Francios Fortin. Another player who looks sure factor into the equation is Patrick Bolieau, who was recently called up.
Read more»

Caps trade for Alexei Tezikov and sign college prospects

by pbadmin
on
Washington traded veterans Joe Juneau, Tom Chorske, Dale Hunter and Craig Berube and the only body they received back was highly touted Sabres prospect Alexei Tezikov. These trades opens up four roster spots which the Caps filled by recalling forwards Matt Herr, Benoit Gratton, Trevor Halverson, and defenseman Steve Poapst. All four had spent various time split between the Portland Pirates and the Caps this season.

On March 28, Washington also called up defensemen Patrick Bolieau from Indianapolis of the IHL. All five call up have been playing since they were brought up so the Caps are now a much younger a very inexperience hockey team.

Tezikov was assigned to Cincinnati of the IHL. Not clear why they would send him to the I instead of the Portland (AHL), though maybe the presence of the heavy number of Chicago prospects in Portland may have played a part in the decision.



——————————————————————————–

In other Caps news; Washington announced they have signed defenseman Dean Stork. Dean played this past year at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. A junior who recently completed his third collegiate season, helping the team to a 12-21-2 overall record.
Read more»

State of the Capitals prospects

by pbadmin
on
For those who continue to believe that the Washington Capitals still have one of the best groups of prospects in all of hockey, I would suggest you take a another look. The continual injury crisis in Washington has slowly and steadily drained much of Washington’s youth, rushing many of them into the NHL. Now, if you choose to include players like Jan Bulis, Jaroslav Svejkowski , Richard Zednik and Brendan Witt as prospects, there is little doubt that the Capitals are still powerful. However, in all fairness, all four of those players have shown they do belong in the NHL and they can no longer truly be considered prospects. The current state of looks rather bleak mainly because Washington has had two sub par drafts in a row and much of their current talent pool appears to be more career minor leaguers than NHL. If I was to honestly rank the Capitals I would have to place them somewhere between 8 and 14.

Examining the players currently within the system, the Capitals do show some balance. They appear to have at least one fairly strong prospect at every position but beyond that it looks thin. The center position appears to be Washington’s strongest area though the team seems to be fairly deep on defense as well. If a few of the goalies can regain their previous forms, the Caps seem set at that position as well for years to come.

Let’s take a look at what is left in Washington’s system position by position.

Goaltending: Read more»

Rookie Richard Zednik puts on a show

by pbadmin
on
Despite the Capitals’ mediocre record of 2-6-2 through the past ten games, the rookies have been putting on a show, particularly Richard Zednik. After a few years of being shuttled back and forth between Washington and Portland of the AHL, the young Slovak has earned a regular spot with the Caps alongside fellow rookie Jan Bulis. A sparkplug catalyst, Zednik provides the Caps with a jump start when they’re behind and his refreshing enthusiasm reinstates the meaning of the word ‘game’.

The Capitals are know as a gritty club that is strong defensively and high in character. All signs point to Richard Zednik being a prototypical Cap. The left winger reminds some of a bigger(though not much at 5-10, 176) Theo Fleury in the feisty way he scraps and instigates his fair share of penalties. Zednik is small by NHL standards but strong as an ox and extremely well-conditioned. He spends much of his time digging for the puck in the corners and trenches, as well as setting up a screen for loose rebounds in the slot. Richard seems to be made of rubber in that every time he’s checked, he bounces right back up. He also has no qualms in taking on the biggest, baddest boys in the NHL, throwing his smallish frame around much the way Sabres’ Mike Peca does.
Read more»

Capitals’ Training Camp notes

by pbadmin
on
A unanimous sigh of relief is coming from Piney Orchard Ice Arena in Odenton, Maryland, the site of the Washington Capitals’ 1997 training camp. No injuries. Yet. Any hockey fan with a decent memory knows the significance of those three words. Injuries last year, a matter of nearly 370 man-games lost, played a key role in ending the Caps’ 14 straight playoff appearance record. This year management started with a clean slate, literally, and a positive outlook going into camp; they’ve been riding high on that attitude because everyone is staying injury-free. Besides that, rookies and veterans alike have all been giving a 110 per cent and the Capitals should be able to put together an impressive squad this year that will give any team run for their money.
Read more»