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The 32-in-32 Series is an annual event here at DobberProspects! Every day in August, we will bring you a complete breakdown of a team’s draft and insights into their off-season movements thus far. Following this up in September, we will dive into every team’s prospect depth chart with fantasy insights and implications for the upcoming seasons. Check back often because we plan to fill your hockey withdrawal needs all off-season!

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I have to say, it was pretty hard to get into finishing this piece up with the sad Johnny Gaudreau news that befell the hockey world Friday morning. He seemed like one of the good guys in hockey that you hear about. I do not know how to really end it other than I hope he and his brother are at peace.

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The Capitals somehow managed to make the NHL playoffs with a -37(!!!) goal differential, sixth worse in the league, and were quickly eliminated by the New York Rangers. At Even Strength the teams played a chess match, but on special teams the Rangers destroyed the Capitals. Realizing the team was likely not much of a playoff team General Manager, Brian MacLellan, really worked to revamp the team in the off-season.

In net, the Capitals made a lot of moves. Number one netminder Darcy Kuemper was shipped out to the LA Kings (more below) as he lost the net to Charlie Lindgren. The Capitals were also able to pay a minimal amount for goaltender Logan Thompson from Las Vegas.

On the back end the Capitals greatly improved. The team shipped out Nick Jensen to bring in Jacob Cychrun from Ottawa, in another one-sided deal for Washington. The team also signed Matt Roy to a six-year deal as LA could not retain him. The team looks miles better on the back end.

Up front is where things get interesting as it should still be a struggle to score for the team, unless a lot of things go right. The team kept a solid fourth line together, adding Brandon Duhaime and Taylor Raddysh, who himself may climb the roster. The team is hoping Connor McMichael, Aliaksei/Alexei Protas, and Hendrix Lapierre can take more steps forward. The team gave an old friend, Jakub Vrana, a PTO in hopes he can make the team and regain his scoring touch. MacLellan traded for Andrew Mangiapane in hopes of adding middle-six scoring depth. There was one big trade this off-season which should make or break the Capitals’ season:

The team traded for Pierre-Luc Dubois in the Kuemper deal, in a straight swap. MacLellan is obviously hoping PLD can be the #1C many envision him as, but he really needs to put in the effort, especially after his first year in LA where he looked disinterested. If Washington can get a motivated PLD that will play like an $8.5M/year player, then they should be right in the mix for the playoffs, but if PLD comes in playing like he has when he wants out because he has his big payday, then the Capitals will be in trouble, and on the hook for six more seasons.

Once all the draft day craziness was over, and free agency passed, President of Hockey Operations and GM, MacLellan, became just the President of Hockey Operations and Chris Partick was promoted to GM and Senior Vice President.

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NHL Draft Recap

Round 1, 17^th overall: Terik Parascak, RW

Parascak was somewhat of a surprise pick at 17, which at the moment could have felt high but after a deeper analysis he really seems to suit being selected in the range. He really rose up the rankings this season. Parasack lead all WHL rookies in scoring with 105 points (43 goals, 62 assists) in 68 games for the Prince George Cougars.

Parascak is not a burner on the ice but he is a player that always does the smart and unexpected plays. He is also one that produces at the end of the day even if you did not really notice him in the game. Parascak projects all over the map, from a top six winger capable of producing high point totals, to a middle six scoring winger who can kill penalties, and also a bottom six winger capable of shutting down opponents. Washington obviously hopes he is more of the former than the latter.

Additionally, Parascak signed his three-year ELC a couple weeks after being drafted.

https://twitter.com/sammisilber/status/1809319235950370977

There is also this fun moment:

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Round 2, 43^rd overall: Cole Hutson, LHD

Hutson is molded somewhat in the same way as his brother Lane on the back end: great at keeping the play alive in the offensive end, great with the puck on his stick, the ability to score with ease and get himself in the perfect spots to do so, deke the opposition, and the same type of warts in the defensive zone; but with a lower projected ceiling. However, he is bigger (not by much) and meaner on the ice than Lane, which may help him make the NHL.

The bottom line is that Hutson produces, but he will have to work on his defensive game to really make a long-term impact in the NHL. He is committed to Boston University for 2024-25 and may spend a couple seasons in the NCAA as the Capitals have some time to let him develop.

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Round 2, 52^nd overall: Leon Muggli, LHD

With the second of the Capitals’ second round picks, the team selected another defenseman who has less of a chance to hit a high upside, like Hutson, but more of a chance to be an every day NHL defenseman. At 17, Muggli played in the top men’s league in Switzerland and both the U18 and U20 World Junior Championships, which is quite remarkable. The last player to do so was Roman Josi (who is pretty good, I guess), and Muggli has more points and games player than him.

He really is not talked about that much by anyone, but I think there is something there to be excited about. Especially when you watch him and he is at the top of his game. Muggli makes great reads in his own end and has the ability to produce while possible also quarterbacking a power play. The Capitals already sign him to a three-year ELC and loaned him back to the Swiss league.

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Round 3, 75^th overall: Ilya Protas, LW

With his brother Alexei exceeding his draft position, and a full time member of Washington, the Capitals drafted the younger Protas in the hopes he can also become an NHL regular. Like his brother he has the size teams covet and great playmaking ability, and although he is slightly smaller than his brother, he is a slightly better skater too. After playing in the USHL in his draft year, Protas will move to the OHL and play for the Windsor Spitfires.

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Round 3, 90^th overall: Eriks Mateiko, LW/RW

A hulking forward at 6-5 with a pretty good shot to boot, Mateiko impressed scouts enough to think highly of him to be drafted in the top three rounds. The issue is his skating but it feels like if he can make it work, he will be a very strong power winger in the NHL.

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Round 4, 114^th overall: Nicholas Kempf, G

If a Capitals draft a goalie there is always a good chance that goalie becomes at the very least an NHL back up, as the team has been an underrated goalie factory for over a decade. The team sees something in Kempf, likely from his strong U18 World Junior play, as his numbers in the USNTDP and USHL leave more to be desired. At 6-2, Kempf was not drafted just because he is big either, but if there is one team I would trust to create a starting goaltender, it would be Washington.

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Round 6, 178^th overall: Petr Sikora, C

Sikora is a player the opposition hates to play against as he hounds the puck non-stop when he wants it. He is a solid forechecking player who has scoring ability on top of the ability to annoy the opposition. If he makes the NHL, at best, he can be a great depth multi-cat contributor.

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Round 7, 212^th overall: Miroslov Satan (Jr.), C

The son of long-time NHLer (also named) Miroslov Satan, is in the mold of his father. A skilled forward who can set up or score a goal. The Capitals dream he can become like his father skill wise but instead in a massive frame at 6-7.

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Off-Season Moves

Incoming

Capfriendly – Possibly the biggest, best and worst addition the Capitals made this off-season. Biggest and best in that other NHL teams used Capfriendly instead of creating their own internal cap system; Worst in that the fans suffer the most. Thankfully, there is still Puckpedia, so go follow them.

Pierre-Luc Dubois (PLD), his full contract (with the NMC now active), and all the baggage – Trade – From LA for Darcy Kuemper. Huge risk trade for Washington. Can he be a 60+ point #1C like he is paid to be, or will he be the lackadaisical player happy to have gotten his money like he was in LA, or even worst possibly the player that did not want to try because he wanted to be moved in CBJ and the final playoffs for WPG. I would put money on him not living up to his contract but also not being as bad as he was in LA

Andrew Mangiapane – Trade – From Calgary for a 2025 2^nd round pick. Good deal for both

Brandon Duhaime – UFA signing, 2 years at $1.85M per

Taylor Raddysh – UFA signing, 1 year at $1M

Jakub Vrana – PTO –

Matt Roy – UFA signing, 6 years at $5.75M per

Jakob Chychrun – Trade – From Ottawa for Nick Jensen and a 2026 3^rd round pick (Yikes!) but he was also no going to se-sign in Ottawa. Great deal for Washington

Logan Thompson – Trade – From Vegas for 2024 and 2025 3^rd round picks. Great deal for Washington!

Spencer Smallman – UFA depth AHL signing

Luke Philp – UFA depth AHL signing

Alex Limoges – UFA depth AHL signing

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Outgoing

Darcy Kuemper – Trade – Shipped the other way in the PLD deal as he lost his #1 role to Charlie Lindgren, and his money was needed to make PLD work

Nicklas Backstrom – LTIR and still not going to return, sadly

TJ Oshie – Likely LTIR, if not he will be back, but I would put money on him not playing this season

Beck Malenstyn – Trade – The Sabres bizarrely gave up a 2^nd round pick in 2024 for him and then signed him to a 2-year deal at $1.35M per shortly after for the 4^th line player

Nick Jensen – Trade – Sent to Ottawa in the Chychrun deal

Max Pacioretty – UFA

Joel Edmundson – UFA (You see that contract the Kings gave him!!?!?!)

Matthew Phillips – UFA – I said the Capitals were an awful place for him to sign, unfortunately I was right

Nicolas Aube-Kubel – UFA deal with BUF (1 year at $1.5M)

Joe Snively – UFA and signed with Detroit– That untimely wrist injury sadly sealed his NHL fate

Lucas Johansen – UFA – Finally free from the Capitals system and still unsigned

Henrik Borgstrom and Tobias Geisser are unsigned RFAs, unlikely to ever be back

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Re-Signed

Ethen Frank – 2 year, $775k (year 1 is two-way and year 2 is 1-way)

Chase Priskie – 1 year two-way, $775k

Mitchell Gibson – 1 year two-way, $775k

Connor McMichael – 2 years, $2.1M per

Riley Sutter – 1 year two-way, $775k

Hardy Haman Aktell – 1 year two-way, $775k

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Final Thoughts

The Capitals added skill and size up front, while also spending two first round selections on high-upside defensemen. The off-season was a big win for the Capitals as well. What will be the make or miss the playoffs feature for this team will be the play of PLD, as the Capitals need him to be the player he is paid to be. On top of making the playoffs, the Capitals and their fans, will be hoping Alex Ovechkin continues to score goals and surpass not only Gretzky’s totals but the 900-goal mark too.

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Thanks for reading, follow me on TWITTER (not X stupid Elon Musk) @FHPQuinn

Pat Quinn