Washington Capitals December Prospect Update
First-round selection Tom Wilson turned it on in November
Riley Barber
RW - Miami (Ohio) University - 18
After an incredible first month of his NCAA career, Riley Barber continued his outrageous play into November. The freshman appeared in seven games for his Miami RedHawks this month, scoring two goals and seven assists to go along with a +7 rating. Barber has now appeared in 13 games in his college career and has six goals, 11 assists, 17 points (which leads all NCAA freshmen and his RedHawks team), and is +10. Incredible numbers for a first-year…
Greg Burke
C – University of New Hampshire (NCAA) – 22
It was a solid month for New Hampshire senior Greg Burke until injury ended it. He had appeared in four games, and had two goals and one assist with a +2 rating, but suffered a shoulder injury and has not played since November 16. Nobody knows how long Burke will be out for, but it sure is tough to see the 22-year-old go down just as he was picking up his play. On the year, Burke has three goals and two assists in nine games and is +4.
Travis Boyd
C – University of Minnesota (NCAA) – 19
Travis Boyd has been a revelation for the Caps since he was drafted in the 6th round in 2011, and continued to impress this month. In nine games, Boyd scored one goal and four assists, and had an even rating. On the season, Boyd has appeared in 14 games, racking up three goals, six assists, and a +2 rating.
Connor Carrick
D - Plymouth Whalers (OHL) - 18
Whalers defenseman and alternate captain Connor Carrick continued his solid offensive and defensive play into November after a good first month in the Ontario Hockey League. Carrick played 12 games this week, notching one goal and five assists for six points and a +3 rating, a performance which leaves Carrick with four goals, 10 assists, 14 points, and a +3 rating through 26 games in 2012-13.
Thomas DiPauli
C - University of Notre Dame (NCAA) - 18
It was somewhat of a slow month for 2012 4th rounder Thomas DiPauli, with the freshman struggling a little after a good first month. Continuing in a top-six role with the Fighting Irish, DiPauli had one goal and one assist in eight games in November. He was also +2. Through 14 games this season, the young forward has two goals, two assists, and is +6.
Christian Djoos
D - Brynäs (Elitserien) - 18
It was another great month for the revelation of the Caps season, Christian Djoos. The Swedish defenseman, who signed his first pro contract earlier in the month, missed a couple of weeks and the opportunity to appear on international duty with Sweden after an operation to remove a torn meniscus in his knee, but did appear in seven games for his Brynäs. Though he was pointless (still no points this season) and -1, he saw his time on ice per game rise from 14:33 to 14:54. His confidence has dropped in the last few games, but his +3 in 25 games is a testament to just how good the 18-year-old has been in his first pro season.
Filip Forsberg
RW - Leksand (HockeyAllsvenkan) - 18
Injury derailed Filip Forsberg’s month. The Swede, who, like Djoos, missed the chance to participate in the 4Nations tournament with the Sweden U20s, also missed seven (and counting) matches with his Leksand due to a hip injury. The 18-year-old played in only two games for his Allsvenskan team this month, recording two assists. Through 19 games, Forsberg, who apparently is at no risk of missing the World Juniors later in December, has seven goals and seven assists for 14 points and is -2.
Garrett Haar
D –Western Michigan University (NCAA) – 19
Another prospect who did not have the strongest of month, WMU Broncos Garrett Haar struggled as his team’s offense sputtered. The 2011 7th rounder appeared in seven games, totaling one goal and one assist. He was also -4. On the season, Haar, who remains a top Caps prospect, has three goals and two assists and is -1 through 11 games.
Caleb Herbert
C – University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA) – 21
After a Riley Barber-esque rookie season, Caleb Herbert has has been going through somewhat of a sophomore slump in his second NCAA season. In fact, if not for a three-point performance on November 30, Herbert would have gone pointless all November and been riding a 10-game points drought. We hope the performance snaps the youngster out of his funk. In seven November games, Herbert had just the one goal and two assists and was -2. He now has one goal and six assists through 13 games.
Patrick Koudys
D – Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) – 20
It was a quiet month for Patrick Koudys, but for a prospect who plays a stay-at-home, no-nonsense game, that is just fine. Koudys appeared in 10 games this month, going +1 with two assists. The biggest news of the month for Koudys, who turned 20 this month, came in the past few days, with his announcement that he will be joining the NCAA’s Penn State Nittany Lions for 2013-14. He has two years of college eligibility remaining, and they will need to be big ones if he wants to be an NHL player.
Evgeny Kuznetsov
RW – Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL) – 20
The most explosive player in the Caps prospect pool had a remarkably quiet November. He appeared in nine games for Traktor Chelyabinsk, scoring one goal and four assists. Kuznetsov also represented Team Russia at the Karjala Cup, where he notched one assist in three games. Through 29 games of his 2012-13 campaign, the top prospect in the Capitals’ system has 10 goals and 16 assists and is +2.
Jaynen Rissling
D - Calgary Hitmen (WHL) – 19
The 6’4”, 225-pound blueliner likely won’t blow anyone away with his offensive skills when he eventually reaches the NHL, but that side of Jaynen Rissling’s game has certainly impressed so far this season. His defensive play has been just as good. Rissling played in 11 games in November, and posted two goals, three assists, and +4. That leaves him with three goals and nine assists for 12 points through 23 games. He is also +7. Rissling is looking like a very solid selection in the 7th round for George McPhee and his Caps.
Taylor Stefishen
LW - University of Calgary (CIS) - 22
Though he may still be a fringe prospect, Taylor Stefishen, who’s eligibility to sign with the Caps runs out in June, is certainly making his case to be an NHL player. He hasn’t scored much this season, but his playmaking has been sensational. Stefishen played in seven games in November, posting one goal and six assists and going +5. At the very least, it was an improvement after a bad first month. Stefishen now has 11 assists to go along with his one goal from 15 games. He is +9.
Chandler Stephenson
LW - Regina Pats (WHL) - 18
Chandler Stephenson missed all of November with a severed tendon in his foot, but is expected to be back sometime in December. He remains at four goals and six assists with a -6 in 12 games.
Steffen Søberg
G – Vålerenga (GET-Ligaen) – 19
Steffen Søberg has very quietly become one of the Caps’ top-performing prospects early on in 2012-13. His move from Manglerud to Vålerenga has been nothing but beneficial. Søberg, who gained some brief international experience starring for Noway in a junior tournament this month, made seven appearances, of which five were wins. On the season, Søberg has started all of his team’s games, winning 17 of them by way of a sparkling 2.23 goals against average and .922 save percentage.
Patrick Wey
D – Boston College (NCAA) – 21
Patrick Wey has for years been the epitome of consistency on the Boston College blueline, and this month was no different. Wey appeared in seven games for the #1 ranked Eagles (who had won 10 straight before a November 30 defeat to rivals Boston University), scoring one goal and five assists. In that time, Wey was +2. Through 12 2012-13 games, Wey, who is a senior and will definitely be signed by the Caps at the end of the season, had one goal and seven assists and is +6.
Tom Wilson
RW - Plymouth Whalers (OHL) - 18
Only superhuman Riley Barber had a better month than 1st round phenom Tom Wilson. From dominating in the OHL to wowing against Russia at the Subway Series, Wilson was sensational. After recovering from broken knuckle(s), Connor Carrick’s teammate played in nine games, scoring three goals and seven assists. He was also +8 and had 13 penalty minutes. On the year, Wilson has five goals, 15 assists, 20 points, +10, and 37 PIMs in 17 games. He’s looking pretty good.
Austin Wuthrich
RW - University of Notre Dame (NCAA) - 19
The latter of two Caps 4th rounders from this summer, Austin Wuthrich has, like Caleb Herbert, had a slow start to his NCAA sophomore season. A possible concussion has not helped. Wuthrich appeared in just six games this month, recording one assist and going -1. On the year, the Alaskan has one goal and four assists with an even rating from 12 games. It is not known whether an injury Wuthrich suffered after taking an elbow to the face is serious, but Caps fans will know that the seemingly insignificant hits to the head are often the worst.
DC Pro Sports Report Three Stars of the Month:
1. Riley Barber (7Gms, 2G, 7A, 9P, +7)
2. Tom Wilson (9Gms, 3G, 7A, 10P, +8)
3. Patrick Wey (7Gms, 1G, 5A, 6P, +2)
