October Washington Capitals Prospect Update
Riley Barber
RW - Miami (Ohio) University - 18
Season starts October 7 vs Western Ontario.
Greg Burke
C – University of New Hampshire (NCAA) – 22
Season starts October 6 vs St. Francis Xavier.
Travis Boyd
C – University of Minnesota (NCAA) – 19
Season starts October 6 vs Lethbridge.
Connor Carrick
D - Plymouth Whalers (OHL) - 18
Connor Carrick had meant to attend the University of Michigan this fall after being drafted in the 5th round by the Caps, but opted instead to head to Plymouth to join fellow pick Tom Wilson with the Whalers. The lovable defenseman, nicknamed "Little Mike" by GM George McPhee because of his resemblence to Caps blueliner Mike Green, has started the year fairly well, scoring one goal and one assist through three games. He is also +1. Carrick impressed at Development Camp, and is starting to impress in his rookie OHL season.
Thomas Di Pauli
C - University of Notre Dame (NCAA) - 18
Season starts October 7 vs US National Team Develoment Program.
Christian Djoos
D - Brynäs (Elitserien) - 18
Perhaps no Caps prospect has impressed as much so far as Brynäs defenseman Christian Djoos. Young (turned 18 in August) and small (5'10", 158-pounds), Djoos has risen into a first-pairing role with the Swedish champions in one of the world's best men's leagues. Through seven games, Djoos has averaged 15:36 time on ice and is +1 with no points. He impressed at Development Camp, and is now turning heads in the pro league. Christian Djoos is establishing himself as a legitimate NHL prospect. Let's hope it continues.
Filip Forsberg
RW - Leksand (Allsvenkan) - 18
We all knew that when the Caps drafted Filip Forsberg 11th overall in the 2012 draft, it was a huge steal. Forsberg, who has already signed his entry-level contract with the Caps, is proving it. Through six games with Leksand in Sweden's second division, Forsberg has four goals and one assist for five points and an even plus-minus. If the young Swede continues to light it up in the men's league, the Caps top-six could get a big boost in 2013.
Garrett Haar
D – University of Western Michigan (NCAA) – 19
Season starts October 6 vs Western Ontario.
Caleb Herbert
C – University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA) – 20
Season starts October 12 vs Ohio State.
Patrick Koudys
D – Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) – 19
Patrick Koudys left the underperforming RPI Engineers of the NCAA to join the United States Hockey League's Muskegon Lumberjacks this summer, and will be hoping the move can pay dividens. The 6'4, 209-pound defenseman, drafted in the 5th-round of the 2011 draft, saw his season start on Saturday, with the Lumberjacks taking on the US National Team Development Team in USHL action. Koudys was pointless and +2 in a 6-3 win. He'll be hoping he can continue to play well after a decent start.
Sergey Kostenko
G - Kuznetskie Medvedi (MHL) - 20
The third of three Caps 7th rounders will play pro hockey in North America, either will the AHL's Hershey Bears or ECHL's Reading Royals.
Evgeny Kuznetsov
RW – Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL) – 20
After blowing off the Caps and signing a two-year contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk (which will take him right through the 2014 Olympics in Sochi) this summer, Evgeny Kuznetsov has picked up wher he left off in the KHL. After posting 41 points in 49 games for Traktor Chelyabinsk last season, Kuzya has five goals and six assists for 11 points through nine games. He is also +2. King Kuznetsov has a very bright future in Washington.
Jaynen Rissling
D - Calgary Hitmen (WHL) - 19
The Caps drafted Jaynen Rissling in the 7th round because he stands at 6'4", 223-pounds and has very good defensive upside. But it is his offensive side that has impressed through four games. Rissling has three assists and is +3. Unlike most 2012 draft picks, Rissling is AHL-eligible as soon as next season, so if he impresses, he could well be in for an NHL contract soon.
Taylor Stefishen
LW - University of Calgary (CIS) - 22
Taylor Stefishen extended his affiliation with the Washington Capitals this summer by returning to the University of Calgary Dinos, and will be hoping the move is the right one. Through two games with the Dinos, Stefishen has one assist and is +1. He needs to be good if he wants to earn a contract with the Caps at the end of the season.
Chandler Stephenson
LW - Regina Pats (WHL) - 18
A gritty but diminutive winger, Stephenson was drafted in the 3rd round by the Caps as a player with 3rd-line potential. After posting 42 points last season, Stephenson has been slow out of the blocks this year, with just two points and -3 through five games. Given the nature of his play, Stephenson should soon snap out of his funk, helping the Regina Pats, who have lost four of five, improve.
Steffen Søberg
G – Vålerenga (GET-Ligaen) – 19
Steffen Søberg left his struggling Manglerud Star last summer, but blew off the chance to join a Canadian Hockey League team to join Vålerenga of the Norwegian GET-Ligaen. It has paid off so far. Vålerenga have won each of their first six games, with Søberg playing a full 60 minutes every game. He has one shutout, a solid 2.00 goals against average, and a sparkling .924 save percentage so far. Søberg is a great goalie, and he is certainly showing it so far.
Patrick Wey
D – Boston College (NCAA) – 21
Season starts October 6 vs New Brunswick.
Tom Wilson
RW - Plymouth Whalers (OHL) - 18
There were few questions surrounding Tom Wilson's size (6'3", 207-pounds) and physical game (141 PIMs last year) when the Caps drafted him at 18th overall this summer. But there were questions over his offensive game. A year after posting just 27 points in 49 games, Wilson is proving everybody wrong early in 2012-13, with two goals and an assist through three games. He has six penalty minutes and an even plus-minus. The sample size is small, but his production is nothing but encouraging.
Austin Wuthrich
RW - University of Notre Dame (NCAA) - 19
Season starts October 7 vs US National Team Development Program.
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