Prospect Info: Caps Prospects General Discussion Thread - 2024-25

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Starting to come around a bit on this year's depth. Gastrin, Nesbitt, Cootes, Zonnon and McKinney are all fairly well-rounded middle six center types. All players that could be at home in an initial bottom six role with the ability to play higher. The system is certainly crowded up front, albeit less so at center, so a D/G makes more theoretical sense but BPA as always.
I like Zonnon (as an aside, feel like you also don't see a lot of Bills these days) but Nesbitt, Cootes, and McKinney all have not scored enough for me. Nesbitt especially did not put up good D-1 numbers at all and hasn't scored as much as you would like riding shotgun to Protas and Greentree.

I would rather they go with another "toolsy" guy in that range. I really like Lee for example, Benak maybe a bit less. Wang I'd rather use the 2nd on but also intrigues me. I trust the development staff -- give me a guy with one or two clear weaknesses but also one or two clear strengths rather than a sort of all-around OK guy.

Ryabkin would be interesting if/when he falls
 
Nesbitt didn't consistently play with LG/IP at 5v5. On the PP more often but I don't hold his numbers against him too much. He's got a lot of filling out to do but the raw frame and some elements of upside are there. Not tremendous but in this draft they're probably not getting someone pretty flawless absent Ravensbergen sliding. That seems doubtful. Even Ryabkin has character/temperament questions.

The numbers for Cootes don't pop but he played on a weak team and led them. McKinney has been sort of on fire lately and likewise leading his team. Not earth-shattering talents but some pro style 3C types that can do a bit of everything. In a weaker draft it's not a terrible outcome depending on what sort of upside options are otherwise palatable. Still plenty of time for further juggling but it's hard to figure what sort of bolder upside plays make sense.

A numbers approach could lead to someone like Schmidt I guess but he seems like he'd struggle to distinguish himself in a deep system on the wings. Ditto Reschny, even if a center, or Benak at their sizes. I still think it's a pretty thin first but those various centers make it moderately more interesting IMO.
 
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Button has always loved him some Schmidt.

Genborg could be a late riser depending on U18 production. One of the more physical players. Fiddler could be a solid upside play if he slides (seems unlikely he won't go in the first all things considered). Also pretty young as a July birthday.

Bear/Lakovic/Kindel out of the Dub would all be solid gets.
 
Question for you draftniks: since our first this year is gonna be fairly late and then we have an early second, given this year's pool, would you rather package those for a higher first if possible or make both picks?
 
Question for you draftniks: since our first this year is gonna be fairly late and then we have an early second, given this year's pool, would you rather package those for a higher first if possible or make both picks?
It depends on how high they could go and if someone falls, but barring something absurd, they should make their picks. Everyone after pick ~13 will be a crapshoot, so you might as well give yourself 2 chances instead of 1.
 
It depends on how high they could go and if someone falls, but barring something absurd, they should make their picks. Everyone after pick ~13 will be a crapshoot, so you might as well give yourself 2 chances instead of 1.
Decided to play around with the Puckpedia pick value tool. Went 28 & 40 for the Caps value, which yields the equivalent value of #19 (currently Ottawa). That doesn't seem worth it to me. I'd rather hang out at 28 (or 32, hopefully), snag BPA, and then grab the best goalie available at 40 unless Ravensbergen drops to our first round pick (in which case I'd flip the approach).
 
I think you'd rather load up on quality than quantity at this stage. Having said that in a draft like this I'm not sure it'll be easy to move up terribly far. A team would either need to be pick poor or so lukewarm on this draft they'd prefer more darts (probably both). That also assumes there being a clear target worthy of moving up. I could see it with perhaps Ravensbergen or maybe if they really believe in Lakovic/Kindel.

Quantity can also make sense. Sometimes that's all that's feasible but I do wonder up front (again) whether they're not nearing the point where there are too many options with not enough opportunity. Some options will age out due to waiver status and/or be trade fodder but I'm not sure stacking yet more depth on the wings in particular is all that beneficial. BPA and all but regardless of that I'd tend to prioritize the more foundational positions as a general principle.
 
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Question for you draftniks: since our first this year is gonna be fairly late and then we have an early second, given this year's pool, would you rather package those for a higher first if possible or make both picks?
It’s a fairly shallow draft. The top end is limited, and then it’s a kinda cluster F behind the top 15 or so, and it’s a free for all.

So more pics in that lower range is good. Bit it ain’t the previous years classes, that’s for sure
 
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If the 28 and 40 picks can get us into the mid teens. Its well worth considering moving up.
One of the top tier prospects could have fallen and that team wants more picks.

You will have to be ready at the draft to pull the trigger if the broad sets up that way.
 
Question for you draftniks: since our first this year is gonna be fairly late and then we have an early second, given this year's pool, would you rather package those for a higher first if possible or make both picks?

If talking about this draft class in general; No. There's not much difference from guys around ~20 than the ones around ~30.

That said. Every team has their own lists. Some teams have same guys in top-10 that other teams don't have in their top-50.

I think the Capitals are going to be swinging for big upside again. If there is a guy that's either sliding or who they really like and they believe he won't last to the Caps, i'm sure they'd move up to take him. That said, like i said, i don't really see it because in terms of this draft class, the difference between ~20 and ~30 isn't big, and the player who they will get at ~40 is going to be a really good piece aswell. These aren't really 'extra' picks either, Caps only have 5 picks in this draft. If they move up, it'd only be 4. That would be really lean draft year for a team that usually drafts really well.

The draft order is going to determine a lot too. If Caps end up around ~30 and are targeting high-risk high-reward type of guys, you'd generally think that teams with multiple picks are going to be after those types of players too. Predators and Flyers both have 2 picks that are likely to end up in the 20-30 range so those would definitely be among the teams you'd want to leapfrog in these scenarios.

Great day of hockey coming up. Hutson and BU vs. Ohio State going to be a tough one since OS has the crowd on their side. Ilya Protas and the Windsor Spitfires begin their Playoffs too. Matthew Schaefer vs. Michael Misa -Playoff series starting aswell.
 
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NCAA hockey tournament starts today, see also @trick9 beating me to some of this while I was typing.


(3/27). Games to watch:

2:00 PM EDT - Ohio State (Brent Johnson) vs Boston University (Cole Hutson) - ESPNU

5:30 PM EDT - Cornell vs Michigan St (David Gucciardi) - ESPN+

8:30 PM EDT - UMass vs Minnesota (Ryan Chesley) - ESPN2

Games to watch tomorrow, 3/28:

2:00 PM EDT - Bentley vs Boston College (Ryan Leonard) - ESPNU


Also, CHL playoff series start this week, likely only watchable through streaming.

In the OHL:

Windsor Spitfires (Protas) starts today.
London Knights (Allen) starts tomorrow
Brantford Bulldogs (Thomas*) starts tomorrow

In the WHL:
Prince George Cougars (Parascak) starts tomorrow
Spokane Chiefs (Cristall) starts tomorrow

In the QMJHL:
Rimouski Océanic (Mateiko) starts tomorrow
 
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BU really struggling against the Buckeyes, down (only) 1-0.

Hutson created one of their only chances and just broke up a potential odd-man rush with a nice defensive play. I liked his game on the PK too.
 
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I think I'd like to stick and hopefully grab Ravensbergen with our first and try to find a high skill guy with some skating issues in the early 2nd. That said, if someone they rate as a top end prospect starts to fall then pull the trigger and move up. Ryabkin could be a wildcard for them. I could see them being interested if the personality is a fit. People are so down on him right now. The US junior leagues tier-1 and tier-2 have become much more competitive and better at projecting from over the past few years. Ryabkin obviously doesn't have the GP to rank in overall points but after transitioning from Russia he's found himself in the top 10 in points per. I think the USHL is a great place to play for a D-1 from Europe now. It gives you so many options with the future of your development. He's one to keep an eye on for sure leading up to the draft. Lots of people seem torn on him. Could go just about anywhere in the first.
 

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