Washington Capitals July 31-in-31

Pat Quinn

2017-07-30

WASHINGTON CAPITALS JULY 31-in-31 2017 

The Capitals had a light draft, with only four picks, and concentrated those picks in prospect areas they are already deep on. Three of the four Capitals picks were defensemen and all are definitely not locks to ever to make the NHL as they were taken in the fourth to seventh rounds. I do thank the Capitals for making my write up short(ish) and sweet! 

 

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2017 Draft results

 

4th Round, 120 Overall – D – Tobias Geisser (Zug EV, Swiss-A)

The Capitals went back to Switzerland (where they appear to be going to more and more) to grab two-way defender Geisser. Some scouts had this pick as too high and others had this as the steal style quality. Geisser was converted from a forward to a defenseman this season as well which explains the massive point drop. He owns a strong shot but was said to look nervous on the back end with pressure and the puck on his stick. He will be a project that could end up a great pick if he eventually makes the NHL, the next season will help tell this tale. Geisser was ranked as the 119th-best prospect by ISS Hockey, 163rd by Future Considerations and 30th for European Prospects by the NHL’s Central Scouting Service.

 

5th Round, 151 Overall – D – Sebastian Walfridsson (MODO, Sweden Jr.)

Walfridsson is a player that has a strong transition game, and is a smart player, but does not project to be anything more than a mid to bottom pairing defenseman. The only time Walfridsson has eclipsed double-digit points was back in 2012-2013. He is more of a late pick that could be a safe pick, than a boom or bust style player, which is never a bad thing when you want to fill the depth out on your roster.

 

6th Round, 182 Overall – D – Benton Maass (Fairbanks Ice Dogs, NAHL/USHS)

Maass was a slight steal in the sixth round as he was one of the stand out players from the United States High School league. He is a good defender and can transition the puck well. From the three Capital defense selections he probably has the same upside offensively as Geisser but likely not the ability to take over games the way Greisser may. There is still a chance he could turn out to be the best of the Capitals four picks.

 

7th Round, 213 Overall – RW – Kristian Roykas-Marthinsen (Almtunas IS, Allsvenskan)

Roykas-Marthinsen was a great final round pick for the Capitals. The pick was reminiscent of recent late Washington picks from the fourth and fifth rounds that could have a chance to be offensive contributors in the NHL (i.e. Damien Rait, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, and Shane Gersich). RM is a sniper out of Norway that honestly went later in this draft than he should have. He has scored at every level and in the U18’s put up eight points, five of them goals, in five games for Norway.

*3 out of 4 players drafted were European? Don Cherry would hate this draft strategy!

 

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Aside: No idea why the Capitals kept the older (and now more expensive) player in TJ Oshie over the cheaper and younger Marcus Johansen, but I digress…

 

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Development Camp

 

Roster

No.

Name

Position

2016-17 Team

Acquired

89

ANDERSON, Tyler

D

Prince George (BCHL)

Free Agent

84

BINDULIS, Kristofers

D

Lake Superior State (NCAA)

Free Agent

81

CARLSON, Adam

G

Lake Superior State (NCAA)

Free Agent

96

COLLINS, Stephen

RW

SUNY Geneseo (NCAA)

Free Agent

39

DELIA, Collin

G

Merrimack College (NCAA)

Free Agent

97

DeVITO, Jimmy

RW

Rensselaer (NCAA)

Free Agent

71

ELGESTAL, Kevin

RW

Vita Hasten (Sweden)

2014 Draft

46

GEISSER, Tobias

D

EV Zug (Swiss)

2017 Draft

63

GERSICH, Shane

LW

North Dakota (NCAA)

2014 Draft

91

GORANSSON, Mattias

D

UMass Lowell (NCAA)

Free Agent

67

GUSTAFSSON, Hampus

C

Merrimack College (NCAA)

Free Agent

36

HOBBS, Connor

D

Regina (WHL)

2015 Draft

73

JEANNOT, Tanner

LW

Moose Jaw (WHL)

Free Agent

21

JOHANSEN, Lucas

D

Kelowna (WHL)

2016 Draft

45

JONSSON-FJALLBY, Axel

LW

Djurgarden (Sweden)

2016 Draft

35

LACKEY, Michael

G

Harvard (NCAA)

Free Agent

49

MAASS, Benton

D

Elk River (Minn. High School)

2017 Draft

47

MALENSTYN, Beck

LW

Calgary (WHL)

2016 Draft

51

MARTHINSEN, Kristian Roykas

LW

Almtuna Jr. (Sweden-Jr)

2017 Draft

75

McGAULEY, Tim

C

South Carolina (ECHL)

Free Agent

54

MITCHELL, Mason

LW

Alaska-Anchorage (NCAA)

Free Agent

40

PILON, Garrett

RW

Kamloops (WHL)

2016 Draft

64

PINHO, Brian

C

Providence (NCAA)

2013 Draft

50

PRISKIE, Chase

D

Quinnipiac (NCAA)

2016 Draft

98

REMPAL, Sheldon

RW

Clarkson (NCAA)

Free Agent

94

RIAT, Damien

LW

Geneve-Servette (Swiss)

2016 Draft

80

SHIELDS, Mack

G

York University (U Sports)

Free Agent

34

SIEGENTHALER, Jonas

D

Zurich (Swiss)

2015 Draft

93

SIMPSON, Mark

C

University of New Brunswick (U Sports)

Free Agent

68

SPINNER, Steven

RW

Nebraska-Omaha (NCAA)

2014 Draft

48

WALFRIDSSON, Sebastian

D

Modo Jr. (Sweden-Jr)

2017 Draft

38

WILLIAMS, Colby

D

Hershey (AHL)

2015 Draft

95

ZAITSEV, Dmitriy

D

Moose Jaw (WHL)

2016 Draft

 

*Not in attendance: Ilya Samsonov

 

Standouts:

To quote GMBM: Shane Gersich was the “best player at camp… He is one of our best players, if not the best player at camp. Really happy about the way he has progressed and where we picked him.” The Capitals need to make sure they can get him signed at the end his final college season (either in 2018 or 2019) or risk losing him like they did with Thomas DiPauli.

Damien Rait – Continuously puts himself in a position to score and has some high-end skill at his disposal

Connor Hobbs – Kid has been exceeding expectations since he has been drafted

Lucas Johansen – Has a good chance to make the NHL for the 2017-2018 season but will likely stay in the AHL

Tim McGauley – 2015 FA signee, signed to a three-year entry level deal, likely to play in the AHL for the 2017-2018 season

Garrett Pilon – Progressing well but should take the long road to the NHL

Brian Pinho – His scoring has increased every year at Providence College in the NCAA

 

Links:

Want approximately 2 hours and 25 minutes’ worth of videos about Caps Development Camp, here you go:

https://www.nhl.com/capitals/news/washington-capitals-2017-development-camp-guide/c-290154160

 

*****

 

Capitals TOP 10:

  1. Jakub Vrana
  2. Ilya Samsonov
  3. Christian Djoos
  4. Travis Boyd
  5. Riley Barber
  6. Connor Hobbs
  7. Vitek Vanecek
  8. Lucas Johansen
  9. Madison Bowey
  10. Chandler Stephenson

Note: Bowey still has great potential but really fell off last year and was seemingly passed by the three defensemen ahead of him. Will be discussed next month in the August 31-in-31, so come back!

 

On the cusp (Next top 5):

  1. Shane Gersich
  2. Garrett Pilon
  3. Jonas Siegenthaler
  4. Damien Rait
  5. Brian Pinho

 

There are two players you are forgetting in the 15:

  1. Nathan Walker – Has a chance to be a bottom six player this year but only has upside as a cheap player in multi-cat cap (or very deep) leagues
  2. Tyler Lewington – Essentially a Brooks Orpik/Karl Alzner style player and a good skater. Will have value in multi-cat cap leagues as he is a defense-first defenseman.

 

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What rookies to I expect to make the Capitals roster and their impact:

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Check back next month where we dive into this topic among others!

You know that guy that hoards like 20 extra players in the off-season and never wants to drop any, that’s me, so follow me for Fantasy Hockey advice as I am addicted to fantasy leagues on the cyber, here: @FHPQuinn  

 

 

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