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Welcome to the September edition of the DobberProspects 32-in-32 Series. This month, we are diving into the depth of each organization, looking at their recent graduates, risers, fallers and top-20 prospects. 

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The Washington Capitals had quite the upgrade this off season in an attempt to stay competitive and help Alex Ovechkin break Gretzky’s total goals records, which lets be honest, he would have broken by now if not for lock-outs, shortened seasons, and two coaches who decided to limit scoring for forwards.

Up front the Capitals took a massive gamble that Dubois wants to play competitive hockey and not coast through his new big money contract. They added a middle-six winger in Andrew Mangiapane, some bottom-line depth, and gave Jakub Vrana a PTO, who by all accounts is playing well in preseason. They will also be without Nicklas Backstrom and TJ Oshie as both players will remain on LTIR for the final year of their deals. On defense and in net the Capitals added through really one-sided trades landing both Jakob Cychrun from Ottawa and Logan Thompson from Vegas for minimal returns. They also signed a big UFA defenseman in Matt Roy to a five year $5.75 million AAV deal.

While there is not much room for rookies on defense or in net, up front Connor McMichael and Aliaksei Protas each established themselves as NHLers, while both Hendrix Lapierre and Ivan Miroshnichenko are battling for full-time spots this year. If they are sent to Hershey it is only a matter of time before they are full time in the NHL.

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Graduating Players

NHL Full time

Connor McMichael (LW/C), Aliaksei Protas (C/RW), and Alexander Alexeyev (D) – The first two are opening night locks but AA is likely a player the Capitals will trade or waive, unless they move another body as there are seven defensemen on the roster making $2M+ while AA makes just $825k

On the Cusp

Hendrix Lapierre (C) and Ivan Miroshnichenko (LW/RW) – Both with top six upside. Both will get cups of coffee but do not expect a full 82 from either as there is really only one forward spot on the third line open

Junior to AHL

Alexander Suzdalev, LW/RW – After not really having a full-time hockey playing home last year, Suzdalev should be a fixture on the Hershey Bears roster this season

Zac Funk LW/RW – After putting up an impressive 123 points in his final WHL season at 20-years old, the signee will hope to start producing for Hershey, but as is the risk with most overage junior players, do not expect the same sort of high-scoring play

USHL to NCAA

Cole Hutson, D – Going to play for Boston College in the NCAA like his brother. He should be one of the teams’ top defensemen and a candidate for Team USA’s World Junior roster.

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Risers

Cam Allen, D – After only getting in 25 games last season, the young defenseman finally had a full off season of health and should be a top player for the Guelph Storm. Expect only good things this year but with the draft tumble and most of 2023-24 lost to injury, watch him close but do not immediately add

Andrew Cristall, LW – Looks every bit the steal mean predicted. If not for the numbers game in Washington, he likely is already on the team. Another year of development will not hurt him as he can continue to round out his game

Ryan Leonard, RW – Would be on the Capitals opening night roster if he did not want to go back to Boston College for another NCAA season. Expect him to join the Capitals at the end of his season

Hendrix Lapierre and Ivan Miroshnichenko can be added here as well since they both look the part of promising young forward that has a bright future

Clay Stevenson, G – Routinely posting great numbers where ever he goes, but he is stuck behind Hunter Shepard in Hershey (for playoffs anyway). Which ever way the Capitals plan to go in net for 2025-26, as both Lindgren and Thompson are UFAs, expect Stevenson to be on the NHL roster as a back-up or 1B

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Fallers

Damian Riat, RW and Tobias Geisser, D – Both Swiss players will likely remain overseas riding out the rights the Capitals hold, in Riat’s case that is already done, as neither player could crack the NHL roster and had trouble sticking in the AHL as well

Henry Rybinsky, RW/C – Really has not established himself in the AHL as he playing in the bottom six with the occasional healthy scratch

Brent Johnson, D – In his final NCAA season, Johnson really needs to shine as there is a ton of competition on the Capitals’’ back end. A poor season will see the Capitals let him walk to UFA status.

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Organizational Depth Chart

(Combination of NHL readiness and upside)

*Graduating Connor McMichael and A. Protas from this list

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Top 20 Prospects

This section is intended to paint a picture of the Washington Capitals prospects whose current trajectory projects them making the most positive fantasy impact at the time that they reach the NHL. Arrival date and NHL certainty have been taken into consideration; however, potential upside is the most important factor in determining this list.

1. Ryan Leonard
2. Ivan Miroshnichenko
3. Andrew Cristall
4. Terik Parascak
5. Hendrix Lapierre
6. Clay Stevenson
7. Pierrick Dube
8. Cole Hutson
9. Leon Muggli
10. Alexander Suzdalev
11. Mitchell Gibson
12. Cameron Allen
13. Vincent Iorio
14. Alexander Alexeyev
15. Bogdan Trineyev
16. Ryan Chesley
17. Ethen Frank
18. Ilya Protas
19. Ludwig Persson
20. Garin Bjorklund

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Thanks for reading. Hopefully, in the near future I can give more love to the Capitals page as I gain more free time. Follow me on Twitter before Musk destroys the follow feature somehow: @FHPQuinn

Pat Quinn