NHL Prospect Pool Overview ’25-26: Washington Capitals Prepare For New Era

The Washington Capitals are the second-last team featured in the NHL prospect pool overview series.

Tony Ferrari digs into Capitals’ strengths and weaknesses, the latest draft class, positional depth chart, next player in line for an NHL opportunity and more. A player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is considered graduated and no longer a prospect for these exercises, with few exceptions.

Initial Thoughts

It was just a few years ago that the Capitals had one of the worst prospect pools in the NHL, with basically no effective NHL prospects in the system. 

Now, they have some intriguing young players who could help build the future of the franchise after they eventually move past the Alexander Ovechkin Era.

Thankfully for the Caps, they have been and will be able to integrate some of these young players while Ovechkin is still around, giving them a chance to rub elbows with the all-time leading goal-scorer in NHL history. 

Their top prospect is Ryan Leonard, one of the most intense young wingers in the game. Leonard is as strong as an ox, and he loves to engage physically, with and without the puck. He personifies a bull in a china shop, looking to level defenders en route to the net before breaking out his impressive puck skill to dangle another defender.

Leonard showed quite a bit in his quick NHL stint at the end of last season and playoffs, but there is still so much of his game he still has to give. With an instant transition from college to the pros, he played into the most instinctual part of his game – his physicality. With a summer of training, Leonard should be ready to hit the ground running. 

Once again, Ivan Miroshnichenko played most of the season in the AHL with an extended stint in the NHL. Although his four points across 18 NHL games weren’t world-beating, the young Russian looks ready to take a step up from the AHL. He’s an excellent finisher from distance and in tight, using his physicality, power and skill to make himself a versatile goal-scorer. 

He’s been used to being one of the strongest people on the ice, and last year, he began to show that once again in his second AHL season. A good summer of training could lead to a role in the middle six with an excellent opportunity to score some goals and appear on the power play as well.

After finishing one of the most productive WHL careers in the last 30 years, Andrew Cristall is heading to play pro hockey, likely with the AHL’s Hershey Bears. His skating and pace have always been an issue, but Cristall has improved in both of those areas in his final couple of WHL seasons. If he can even get up to a passable NHL level, his offensive skill in all regards will make him a highly effective left winger. 

Cristall is a lethal shooter who can dangle his way into the slot to get his shot off or evade pressure with his hands while drawing extra attention and then make a pass out of trouble to set up a scoring chance. The ceiling on Cristall’s game is quite high, and if he hits it, he could be a legitimate top-six scorer who puts up some impressive numbers. 

Drafting and developing Aliaksei Protas worked so well, the Caps decided to double down and draft his brother, Ilya Protas. The younger Protas brother tore it up last season with the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires, putting up 124 points in 61 games. He’s not a burner by any means, but the 6-foot-5 forward has incredible hands and excellent instincts with the puck. He combines finesse and power quite well. Protas is set to jump to the AHL, which will test his skating. He could be a bit of slow burn developmentally, but he could be as effective as his brother with a bit more skill.  

Drafting Terik Parascak 17th overall in 2024 was a bet on his tactical play and play recognition. Parascak relies on his linemates when it comes to puck transportation and driving the line, but when he’s in the offensive zone, he’s a high-end play-connector who can finish and make crisp passes all over the zone. His step back last season was a bit expected after a wildly productive draft year, but he needs to show he can bounce back.

Since the Capitals drafted Cole Hutson 43rd overall in 2024, he’s been one of the most impressive offensive blueliners outside of the NHL. His play with Boston University has been unreal, posting 48 points as a freshman to lead the nation’s defensemen in scoring. He builds his offensive game on his shiftiness and puckhandling, using his cohesive hands and feet to evade pressure. He must work on his defensive game, but that’s the one area of his game that might be more advanced at his age than his brother, 2025 Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson. 

Swiss defenseman Leon Muggli is a smart, steady, mobile defender. His offensive game isn’t flashy, but he does a great job of advancing play when his team has the puck. Defensively, he makes good reads and seems to understand how to position himself and cut down plays. After a couple of seasons playing in the men’s league in Switzerland, Muggli will play his first full North American season in the AHL.

After helping the London Knights win the Memorial Cup, Cam Allen has reasserted himself as a legitimate NHL prospect after injuries slowed his development. He moves well and has utility at both ends of the ice, constantly scanning and keeping his options open. Allen should be making his AHL debut this fall when he will look to move forward with his development against pros. He had some off-ice issues this past season that should be monitored moving forward. 

U-23 Players Likely To Be On NHL Roster This Season

Ryan Leonard (RW)

2025 NHL Draft Class

Round 1, 27th overall – Lynden Lakovic, LW, Moose Jaw (WHL)

Round 2, 37th overall – Milton Gastrin, C, MoDo Jr. (Swe.)

Round 3, 96th overall – Maxim Schafer, RW, Berlin (Ger.)

Round 5, 155th overall – Jackson Crowder, C, Chicago (USHL)

Round 6, 180th overall – Aron Dahlqvist, D, Brynas Jr. (Swe.)

The Capitals had a very solid draft in June, headlined by first-round pick Lynden Lakovic. 

At 6-foot-4, Lakovic has the size NHL teams want, but the knock on him is that he doesn’t use it effectively enough. They want him to throw his weight around and impose himself as a power forward. While he does flash those things, Lakovic is an incredibly skilled forward with impressive handling ability. 

He pairs that puckhandling with high-end skating. Lakovic can pull away from opponents and evade pressure with his edge work. He is an intelligent shooter, understanding where the most dangerous chances come from and getting the puck there as a passer or skater. 

Lakovic is a true dual-threat offensive player. He could be the steal of the first round if he continues to be the fast, skilled forward he’s been while adding a touch of physicality. 

In Round 2, Washington added Milton Gastrin from Sweden. He’s a strong, intelligent player who projects as a center long-term thanks to his facilitation ability and defensive IQ. He already plays the game with pro habits, which has allowed him to be a serviceable bottom-six forward in the Swedish League already when he got a cup of coffee. Gastrin has shown some flashes of higher-end skill, and if that ever becomes a bit more consistent, he could play as a second-line center in a pinch.

Third-round pick Maxim Schafer is a high-motor player who must refine his skill with the puck to reach his full potential. Schafer loves to get in on the forecheck and crash the net. He likes to get involved physically all over the ice and pushes himself to be a nuisance on the backcheck as well. He should get a more consistent look at the men’s level in Germany next season where he will look to build on his skill.

Jackson Crowder is built to be a bottom-six, crash-and-bang forward who makes life difficult on his opponents. His skating will need work, and he isn’t much of an offensive player, but he is always looking to be the hardest worker on the ice. He doesn’t have the upside that you look for in a top-six player, but his brute force is something NHL teams value. 

The Capitals finished their draft class by adding 6-foot-4 bruising blueliner Aron Dahlqvist. He tracks play well and finishes all of his checks with force. He protects the net front quite well, doing a good job of keeping his goalie’s sightlines clean. Dahlqvist uses his length to close space and knock pucks free with his stick. Dalhqvist is a meat-and-potatoes defender coaches will love. 

Strengths

Adding Lakovic at the draft to go with Cristall and Miroshnichenko gave the Capitals a trio of really solid and diversely skilled left wingers who could all play in the top six one day. 

Cristall is the all-out offensive skilled player who can score and pass at a high-end level. 

Miroshnichenko is the power forward of the trio, using his blend of strength and skill. 

Lakovic is a raw ball of clay with incredible skill and speed as well as a 6-foot-4 frame to build on, and he could have the highest upside of the three. 

Beyond them, Alexander Suzdalev and Ludwig Persson are interesting players in their own right. The Capitals’ face of the franchise for the past two decades is a left winger, so it’s almost poetic that the left wing is the strength of their pipeline. 

Weaknesses

The Capitals have quietly built their prospect pool up to a respectable level, especially for a contender. After years of having one of the worst pipelines in the league, they have some solid prospects. 

One glaring weak spot is the right wing. 

Despite 2024 first-round pick Terik Parascak playing on the right side, the Capitals such a lack of talent at right wing that they traded for Justin Sourdif, who struggled to establish himself as an NHL option in the Florida Panthers’ system. Sourdif has become one of Washington’s more promising prospects on the right wing despite being on his last legs as a prospect at 23 years old. That said, if you’re going to have a weak point, the wing isn’t a bad spot to have it.

Hidden Gem: Ryan Chesley, D

After three solid years of development at the University of Minnesota, wearing the ‘C’ in his final NCAA campaign, Ryan Chesley signed his entry-level contract and joined AHL Hershey to finish last season. 

Chesley is a physical blueliner who defends with his stick first before closing with his body. He isn’t a flashy player, but he moves well and understands how to make the right play at the right time. He doesn’t get beaten often. 

His confidence with the puck also grew last year, becoming a serviceable puck-mover and facilitator from the blueline.

Heading into his first full pro season. Chesley should be one of Hershey’s better blueliners in the defensive zone.

Next Man Up: Ryan Leonard, RW

When Leonard finished his college season and signed his entry-level contract, he made an impact almost immediately. 

Leonard was fast, physical and meshing with his teammates on and off of the ice. Leonard only ended up with a single goal in his nine-game stint to end the regular season before adding an assist in the playoffs, but his 200-foot play and instant injection of intensity was something Washington loved. 

Coming into this season, Leonard will have a full summer of training after seeing what the NHL had to offer, and he should be able to hit the ground running. Leonard should be one of the Calder favorites heading into next season.

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Lynden Lakovic, Andrew Cristall, Ivan Miroshnichenko, Alexander Suzdalev, Ludwig Persson

C: Milton Gastrin, Ilya Protas, Patrick Thomas, Jackson Crowder, Miroslav Satan

RW: Terik Parascak, Justin Sourdif, Henrik Rybinski, Graeme Clarke

LD: Cole Hutson, Leon Muggli, Aron Dahlqvist, David Gucciardi

RD: Cam Allen, Vincent Iorio, Ryan Chesley, Brent Johnson

G: Garin Bjorklund, Chase Clark, Nicholas Kempf, Antoine Keller

For a deeper dive into the prospect pool with player rankings, check out the Yearbook and Future Watch editions of The Hockey News in print.

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