WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Washington Capitals won the Metropolitan Division with 104 points, the 4th best overall point total in the NHL. The Caps broke the 100 point mark for the 5th year in a row and 12th time since coming into the league in the 1974-75 season. The last time Washington didn’t win the division was in 2014-15 behind the New York Rangers.
On offense, Alexander Ovechkin led the team with 51 goals and 89 points. Caps had 6 other players with 20+ goals and 3 more with 10+ goals. Heading into free agency the only forwards who will become unrestricted free agents are Devante Smith-Pelly, Brett Connolly, and Carl Hagelin.
John Carlson led the defense with 13 goals. His 57 assists led all Caps defensemen and was 4th overall in points. Carlson’s plus/minus was 2nd overall (+21) only behind Michal Kempny who led the team (+24). The only Caps UFA’s on defense is Brooks Orpik, but don’t expect Washington to resign him.
In the system, goaltending prospect Ilya Samsonov is the team’s top rated prospect. The next four rated prospects are all defensemen. Six of the Caps top ten prospects are defensemen led by Alexander Alexeyev so don’t expect Washington to take a defenseman in the first round of this year’s NHL Entry Draft.
In net, Braden Holtby had another solid season but he is turning 30 this year and is heading into the last year of his contract. Samsonov, isn’t near ready to take over the reins.
Despite being fifth overall in Goals For, the Capitals are one of the older teams in the league on offense averaging 29 years old. Only three forward prospects are considered in the top 10 Capitals prospects. This year looks to be the year they start a new trend towards selecting forwards in the first round of the draft.
In PHN’s mock draft, the pickings are slim for forwards but there are some very good centers on the board such as Nikita Alexandrov from Charlottetown (QMJHL). There is at least one winger that is standing out such as Left Wing Jakob Pelletier from Moncton (QMJHL).
Nicklas Backstrom is heading into the last year of his contract and he will be turning 32 years old in November. That said, only two centers on the Caps scored over 20 goals. At the end of the day we believe Washington will look to the Ontario Hockey League for a center and make the following announcement at the draft.
“With the 25th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, the Washington Capitals are proud to select, from the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League, Connor McMichael.”
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