Sunday, August 18, 2013

Ranking the Caps' Top 10 Prospects

The Caps have built their current team almost exclusively on draft picks. Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and Mike Green, arguably the three biggest studs on this team, were all first-round draft picks.

While the Caps may not have any prospects on Ovechkin's level, Hockey Prospectus ranks the Caps minor-league system as the 11th best in the NHL, and the best hockey prospect not currently in the NHL is arguably in the Capitals organization. That being said, here is a list of Washington's Top 10.

*Note: Hockey's Future lists Tomas Kundratek as a prospect, but I didn't include him because he has seen lots of playing time in the NHL last year. He'd definitely be Top 5 if I included him.

10. Michael Latta- The dark horse in the infamous Filip Forsberg trade, Latta is a tough center who could be a good depth player for the Caps.
9. Connor Carrick- Arguably one of the better defensive prospects in the Washington organization, Carrick is a potential replacement once players like John Erskine, Tom Poti, Jack Hillen etc. have left.
8. Zach Sanford- Sanford is still a few years away from the NHL, but he is a versatile forward who could be a good third/fourth liner.
7. Madison Bowey- The Caps needed a defenseman in the draft, and they delivered with Bowey, a tough shutdown blue-liner who could end up with the big squad in just two years.
6. Riley Barber- An underclassman in college, Barber is a few years away from the big-time, but once he's there, he will be able to fill the void left by aging players such as Martin Erat and Jason Chimera.
5. Andre Burakovsky- A dangerous forward with a very dangerous shot, Burakovsky could be the answer to the gap left by Alexander Semin.
4. Phillip Grubauer- The top goaltending prospect on the team, Grubauer impressed in a few stints in the NHL last year, and could be seeing a job with the big squad soon.
3. Stan Galiev- He had a down year last year, but is still extremely talented, an exceptionally good passer, and would be a good 3rd-line forward.
2. Tom Wilson- Impressed in the playoffs with his physical play, Wilson brings a much-needed dose of toughness into the team, and could make the team this year itself.
1. Evgeny Kuznetsov- Believed by most to be the best prospect in the world, when Kuznetsov comes to DC after his KHL contract expires next year, he and Ovechkin could make one of the most lethal combinations in the world.

What do you think? Who else should be included in this? Who would you take out? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

No comments:

Post a Comment