Prospect Info: Caps Top Prospects General Discussion Thread - 2024

[Vilica]

Schedule for the week:

Hershey - Wed 11/27, Fri 11/29, Sat 11/30

CHL:
Andrew Cristall Kelowna - Wed 11/27, Fri 11/29, Sat 11/30

Terik Parascak Prince George - Fri 11/29, Sat 11/30

Patrick Thomas Brantford - Fri 11/29, Sat 11/30

Ilya Protas Windsor - Wed 11/27, Fri 11/29, Sat 11/30

Cam Allen Guelph - Thu 11/28, Fri 11/29, Sun 12/1

Eriks Mateiko Saint John - Fri 11/29, Sat 11/30

College:
Ryan Leonard BC - Fri 11/29

Ryan Chesley Minn - Fri 11/29, Sat 11/30

Cole Hutson BU - Fri 11/29, Sat 11/30

 

[marcel snapshot]

Pascarak needs to make it big so John Cusack can play him in his bio-pic

 

[NobodyBeatsTheWiz]

Pascarak needs to make it big so John Cusack can play him in his bio-pic

Adrien Brody

 

[bacchist]

Actually gonna be hard to get (and keep) all of these kids in Washington. gotta have vets and only so many middle 6 spots. Would be great if one of them surprised and became a legit top line player.

I would not be surprised if Leonard was a legit top line player. Actually, I expect it. I'd be disappointed if he wasn't.

 

[Silky mitts]

Pascarak needs to make it big so John Cusack can play him in his bio-pic

Kodi Smit-McPhee

 

[twabby]

You love to see it folks!

 

[Calicaps]

You love to see it folks!

always extra good when the head-scratcher off-the-board picks pan out. Hope Parasek continues to develop.

 

[DWGie26]

I would not be surprised if Leonard was a legit top line player. Actually, I expect it. I'd be disappointed if he wasn't.

I do too. To start, I think he is more of a 2nd/3rd line guy. When OV leaves there will be a 1RW spot available for Wilson, Leonard, Miro. We need someone to grab and prove they are legit first line guy.

 

[Calicaps]

I would not be surprised if Leonard was a legit top line player. Actually, I expect it. I'd be disappointed if he wasn't.

This.

 

[wickedwitch]

I do too. To start, I think he is more of a 2nd/3rd line guy. When OV leaves there will be a 1RW spot available for Wilson, Leonard, Miro. We need someone to grab and prove they are legit first line guy.

Leonard will have a year in the NHL to develop before Ovi leaves; my best guess is he'll be a decent 1st line player by year 2.

My projections for Leonard point-wise are that his first season he'll end up with somewhere between 35 to 65 points, but probably closer to 40-45. (The ranges I have are not his absolute limits, but something around the 10th percentile to 90th percentile projections and then his 40th to 60th percentiles.) Then he'll have a couple seasons between 40-80 points, but more likely between 55-60. Then at his peak he'll be anywhere from 50 to 120 points, but probably between 75 to 95 points. The upper limit of his peak is the hardest to project, because it's dependent on a lot of things external to Leonard, too. And of course all of this assumes that the scoring levels stay as high as they are currently.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Leonard will have a year in the NHL to develop before Ovi leaves; my best guess is he'll be a decent 1st line player by year 2.

My projections for Leonard point-wise are that his first season he'll end up with somewhere between 35 to 65 points, but probably closer to 40-45. (The ranges I have are not his absolute limits, but something around the 10th percentile to 90th percentile projections and then his 40th to 60th percentiles.) Then he'll have a couple seasons between 40-80 points, but more likely between 55-60. Then at his peak he'll be anywhere from 50 to 120 points, but probably between 75 to 95 points. The upper limit of his peak is the hardest to project, because it's dependent on a lot of things external to Leonard, too. And of course all of this assumes that the scoring levels stay as high as they are currently.

120?!

I was thinking 40/40 would be excellent lol…

 

[Langway]

CHL USA Prospects Challenge Set To Begin: What You Need To Know - FloHockey

The CHL USA Prospects Challenge is set to begin Tuesday in London with many top 2025 NHL Draft prospects on display including Porter Martone and Will Moore.

www.flohockey.tv

The CHL USA Prospects Challenge games go tonight and tomorrow on NHLN. Loads of first round talents on display.

 

[Langway]

Kelowna named Memorial Cup hosts in 2026. Will they trade Cristall to load up next year'? They sit ninth in their division, albeit with games in hand. Have to think they'll be in tough next month presumably without both Cristall+Iginla for a while during the WJCs. Iginla should return next season but it at least probably makes sense to trade Cristall and Price to quickly reload.

This year's NTDP team is weak. They should add a few from the U17s in the spring but that group isn't stellar either. They'll need more from CHL teams probably. One noteworthy player from this NTDP team is Charlie Trethewey, a RD from Maryland headed to BU. If still available when the Caps pick I could see them having interest. Fairly solid and maybe not that far from going early 20's (if they keep their pick).

One guy that was quite noticeable last night was Lakovic from Moose Jaw/WHL. Big kid, soft hands. Likely off the board before the Caps are up, though. A lot of other WHL talent in these CHL games. And another notable Euro talent joining the W in Radim Mrtka heading to Seattle.

 

[Cush]

just received a 10 min misconduct

 

[usiel]

Kelowna named Memorial Cup hosts in 2026. Will they trade Cristall to load up next year'? They sit ninth in their division, albeit with games in hand. Have to think they'll be in tough next month presumably without both Cristall+Iginla for a while during the WJCs. Iginla should return next season but it at least probably makes sense to trade Cristall and Price to quickly reload.

This year's NTDP team is weak. They should add a few from the U17s in the spring but that group isn't stellar either. They'll need more from CHL teams probably. One noteworthy player from this NTDP team is Charlie Trethewey, a RD from Maryland headed to BU. If still available when the Caps pick I could see them having interest. Fairly solid and maybe not that far from going early 20's (if they keep their pick).

One guy that was quite noticeable last night was Lakovic from Moose Jaw/WHL. Big kid, soft hands. Likely off the board before the Caps are up, though. A lot of other WHL talent in these CHL games. And another notable Euro talent joining the W in Radim Mrtka heading to Seattle.

Just watched the 15-minute highlight vid of game 1 and even beyond the nice breakaway goal he stood out a bit.

Thx for the heads up regarding the NTDP quality just the Moore kid stands up but probably more of a 3rd line center.

 

[Langway]

From the Cristall prospects thread:

“We will change a little bit now on the direction we are going in,” Hamilton admitted. “We will be more focused on building the team for next year. That is something we will start working on here on the next six months for sure.”

Much more spirited response in Game 2 tonight from the US. Still vastly out-gunned but scrums galore.

 

[usiel]

Many many scrums.

 

[usiel]

From the Cristall prospects thread:

Much more spirited response in Game 2 tonight from the US. Still vastly out-gunned but scrums galore.

USA goalie made some baller saves. Was like 36 to12 in shots.

 

[Rayquaza64]

Kelowna named Memorial Cup hosts in 2026. Will they trade Cristall to load up next year'? They sit ninth in their division, albeit with games in hand. Have to think they'll be in tough next month presumably without both Cristall+Iginla for a while during the WJCs. Iginla should return next season but it at least probably makes sense to trade Cristall and Price to quickly reload.

This year's NTDP team is weak. They should add a few from the U17s in the spring but that group isn't stellar either. They'll need more from CHL teams probably. One noteworthy player from this NTDP team is Charlie Trethewey, a RD from Maryland headed to BU. If still available when the Caps pick I could see them having interest. Fairly solid and maybe not that far from going early 20's (if they keep their pick).

One guy that was quite noticeable last night was Lakovic from Moose Jaw/WHL. Big kid, soft hands. Likely off the board before the Caps are up, though. A lot of other WHL talent in these CHL games. And another notable Euro talent joining the W in Radim Mrtka heading to Seattle.

in a hypothetical world where they trade cristall, where could he go? would imagine he’d cost an absolute fortune

 

[usiel]

in a hypothetical world where they trade cristall, where could he go? would imagine he’d cost an absolute fortune

Seen too many smallish/small frame/suspect speed super high scores in major juniors be busts. Basically a bit prove it at every stage so when it comes to trade value a bit meh even at this point. No doubt he'll be a good factor at the AHL level if he adapts to the much 'try harder' at the level. I'm a caps fraftnik so of course I'd love Cristall to max out his potential but being a draftnik just need to take a year at a time. Like even with Protas did not think he could be this type of producing glue in point scoring so far this year.

 

[Langway]

in a hypothetical world where they trade cristall, where could he go? would imagine he’d cost an absolute fortune

A bidding war would be great but a fortune may not be essential if the main aim is strengthening next year's team. Not that they'll give him away but the best offer should do it. I would think Kelowna would ideally want younger talent that's playing in the league already vs. picks but picks could be shipped back out if the value is there. Looks like a few teams have extra firsts but, again, ideally they'd probably want some immediate contributors that give them a shot at making a playoff appearance this season but mainly offer more of a boost next season.

Outside of McKenna there's probably not a more impactful offensive player in the league currently. On most teams he would become The Guy. A team like Saskatoon could really use him as they don't have much legit impact talent but are still having considerable success this year. Maybe Brandon if they think getting him and then McQueen back puts them right in the mix. But anyone that's going for it ought to be interested.

 

[Kuz]

Outside of McKenna there's probably not a more impactful offensive player in the league currently. On most teams he would become The Guy. A team like Saskatoon could really use him as they don't have much legit impact talent but are still having considerable success this year. Maybe Brandon if they think getting him and then McQueen back puts them right in the mix. But anyone that's going for it ought to be interested.

Hes probably the most impactful offensive forward so far. With 25 games like McKenna and his current pace he would have had 64 points. Just look at the difference of Kelowna with and without Cristall. Still hes of course not a bigger talent than McKenna. Think what McKenna would do in the WHL two years from his draft year. Cristall is in his draft+2 and McKenna is in his D-1.

 

[FourQuarters]

in a hypothetical world where they trade cristall, where could he go? would imagine he’d cost an absolute fortune

The most realistic answer is one for one trade with PG for Parascak. PG will lose Heidt and Zimmer next season, so they want to make a run in this season, meanwhile Kelowna wants to build up a strong team for next season, and parascak is one year younger than Cristall.