Washington Capitals 2008 NHL entry draft

Round 1/21

Anton Gustafsson, C (Frolunda Jr, Swe)

GP:33 G:15 A:17 Pts:32 PIMS: 55

My thoughts on Gustafsson:I really like this pick. Anton is the son of Caps legend Bengt Gustafsson. Bengt had 555 carrer points in 629 carrer games as a Washington Capital. Bengt has said that Anton is a bigger, faster, more skilled version of himself. That's pretty impresive. Anton suffered from injury problems this year in Sweden's junior league. He had a serious back injury. The Caps medical staff has said he'll be good to go. Anton likes to play a physical game, he doesn't back down from people and sometimes he likes to hit more then score. I think he'll fit perfect on an line with Alex Semin in the future.

Road to the NHL-Gustafsson is returing to Sweden to play 1 season in Sweden's 2nd tier league. After that he'll play in Sweden's top league, SEL. Then he'll come to North America. He might spend some time in Hershey. He's about 3 away from the NHL.

NHL comparable-Mike Fisher, or Jordan Staal

Round 1/27

John Carlson, D (Indiana, USHL)

GP:59 G:12 A:31 Pts:43 PIMS: 72 +11

My thoughts on Carlson-I really like this pick too! Carlson is a big, tough, physical defenceman who has offensive upside. His numbers in the USHL were impressive this year. The USHL isn't a top junior league but Carlson is headed to the London Knights in the OHL next year. Carlson is a right-handed d-man and those are kinda rare. The Caps are thin on RD so this pick makes a lot of sense.

Road to the NHL-Carlson is going to be playing in the OHL next year. He'll be playing for the London Knights. Caps legend Dale Hunter coaches the London Knights. Expect Carlson to play 1-2 years in London and then in the AHL for 1-2 years. He's about 3 years away from the NHL.

NHL comparable-Barret Jackman

Round 2/57

Eric Mestery, D (Tri-City, WHL)

GP: 71 G:2 A:14 Pts:16 PIMS:65 +9

My thoughts on Mestery-Mestery was kinda of a suprise pick, I didn't think the Caps would pick a player like him. He's a big and mobile defenceman who doesn't bring much offence or phycial play to the table. He's always in the right position defensivley, and he can skate the puck out of trouble. I'm not really to excited about this pick, but Mcphee is a pretty smart man.

Road to the NHL-Mestery will head back to the WHL next year. He'll probably spend 2-3 years in junior, and then 1-3 years in the AHL. He's about 3-5 years away from the NHL.

NHL comparable-Shaone Morrisonn, Jeff Schultz.

Round 2/58

Dmitri Kugryshev, RW (CSKA Moscow, Rus 3)

GP:35 G:29 A:29 Pts:58 PIMS: 16

My thoughts on Kugryshev-I think this kid could be the steal of the draft. Kugryshev scored at an impressive rate in Russia's 3rd league. He played on a team with #6 overall pick Nikita Filatov, Filatov outscored Kurgryshev by only 6 points. So Filatov didn't blow him out the water. Kugryshev has good hands, and is willing to go into the corners and fight for the puck. He can be physical at times, and he works hard. The only thing that concerns me is that he doesn't have amazing top speed.

Road to the NHL-Kugryshev was just draft by the Quebec Ramparts in the CHL import draft. He doesn't have to play for the Ramparts but reports are that he will come over to North America and play in the QMJHL. He'll probably spend 2 years in junior and then maybe a year in Hershey. He's about 2-3 years away from the NHL.

NHL comparable-Chris Kunitz

Round 4/93

Braden Holtby, G (Saskatoon, WHL)

25W - 29L - 2TO - 1SO

GAA: 2.84 SV% .908

My thougths on Holtby-This could be another steal! Holtby is the victim of playing on a terrible team last year. The team infront of him was very young. Holtby keep them in all the games. He had impressive numbers, and he faced the 2nd most shots agaisnt in the WHL. He's a work house. He started 61 games last year. Holtby is very athletic and has very powerfull legs. Sometimes his powerfull legs put him out of position because he slides across the crease to far.

Road to the NHL-Holtby will head back to the WHL this year. He's playing on a horrible team so I'm sure he wants to get out of there fast, but goalie's take longer to develop. He'll spend 2 years in junior and then spend 2-4 years in the AHL. He's about 4-6 years away from the NHL. Remember that goalie's take longer to develop.

NHL comparable-Patrick Lalime

Round 5/144

Joel Broda, C (Moose Jaw, WHL)

GP:73 G:30 A:23 Pts:53 PIMS:74 -1

My thoughts on Broda-He's not going to be a top 6 forward. He'll end up being a 3rd line guy. He's got some skill and he works really hard. He has great work ethic and he's a great leader. He sticks up for his teammates, he had 6 fights last year in the WHL.

Road to the NHL-Broda will head back to the WHL next year. He'll spend 2 years in junior, and then 1-2 years in the ECHL, and then 1-2 years in the AHL. He's about 4-6 years away. As we get later in the draft guys will take longer to make the NHL.

NHL comparable-Smaller Brandon Dubinsky

Round 6/174

Greg Burke, LW (NH Monarchs, EJHL)

GP:40 G:21 A:25 Pts:46 PIMS:46

My thoughts on Burke-I don't really know much about this kid. Nobody knows much about him. He played in a lower-level junior league last year, and he'll play in the USHL next year and then he'll play at UMass. He's got good size and good hands, I don't know much about him.

Road to the NHL-Burke is going to have a long road to the NHL. He'll spend 1 year in the USHL. Then he'll spend 4 years in college, and then he'll probably spend 1-2 years in the ECHL, then 2-3 years in the AHL. He's about 6-7 years away.

NHL comparable-lesser skilled Viktor Kozlov

Round 7/204

Stefan Della Rovere, LW (Barrie, OHL)

GP:68 G:13 A:19 Pts:32 PIMS:171 -14

My thoughts on Della Rovere-I love this kid. He's a good old fashion fighter. He's got some skill but he's mainly a fighter. He loves to throw the lefts, and late. He's got enough skill to get him to the NHL. He's kinda a small guy, but he'll challenge anybody and he's a great leader and teammate. He's probably going to be the captain for his junior team next year.

Road to the NHL-He'll head back to the OHL, and he'll spend another 2 year there, then he'll play in the AHL for 2-3 year. He's about 4-5 years away from the NHL.

NHL comparable-Matt Bradley

*NOTE* The road to the NHL is a prediction my me. Players could take shorter or longer to make in to the NHL. I'm not talking about 1-2 games in the NHL, I'm talking about full-time NHL players.

News on RFA's and Huet

Recently in an interview with Caps GM George Mcphee, Mcphee said that he'd match any offer sheet on our RFA's. Here's Mcphee's exact words. "If someone puts an offer sheet in front of one of our players," McPhee said during a news conference in Arlington to preview this weekend's NHL Entry Draft, "we'll match it - probably in less than 10 minutes."

That's good news to hear. It looks like Green, Laich and Morrisonn will be staying with the Caps.

Mcphee also talked about the upcoming draft. You can watch the interview here. http://capitals.nhl.tv/team/launch.htm?type=fvod&id=19136&catid=208

There's also some news on Huet. Today Huet gave an interview to a French newspaper. He basically said that Washington is his 1st choice and he wants to stay in D.C. He also said that he wants a 3 year deal. Which I think is perfect. He said if the Caps offer him a reasonable contract that he will take it. There are also reports that the Huet's are looking to buy a house in D.C. So that means he's probably staying.

Ovechkin wins Hart and Pearson, Bruce wins Jack Adams

Alex Ovechkin won the Hart trophy and the Pearson trophy tonite. Ovechkin received 128 of 134 first-place votes, and Malkin was the runner-up.

Bruce won the Jack adams trophy. Boudreau received 31 of 74 first-place votes. Guy Carbonneau was the runner-up, Carbonneau had 24 first-place votes.








Backstrom was the runner-up for the Calder trophy. Patrick Kane won the trophy. Kane received 71 of 133 first-place votes. Backstrom had 30 first-place votes.

NHL awards preview/Ovechkin news

The 2008 NHL awards show is tomorrow, June 12th, at 7:00 p.m. on Versus. Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Bruce Boudreau are all up for awards from the Caps. The last time the Caps had 3 players/coach win 3 awards at the award show was back in 1984.

Ovechkin is nominated for the Hart trophy(MVP) and the Lester B. Pearson(Most outstanding player voted by the players) Ovechkin had 65 goals, 47 assist and 112 points. He was the first player to score 60 goals since Lemieux did in 1996. Ovechkin also broke the record for most goals by a LW in a season. Ovechkin led the NHL in Goals and Points. He was award the Art Ross(most points) and Maurice "Rocket" Richard(most goals).

Other players nominated-Jarome Iginla, Evgeni Malkin.

Prediction-Ovechkin wins both the Hart and Pearson. It's pretty obvious.

Backstrom is nominated for the Calder Memorial(rookie of the year) trophy. Backstrom had 14 goals and 55 assist and 69 points. Backstrom broke the Caps assist record for rookies. Ovechkin owned the previous record. Backstrom also was First NHL rookie to record 4 assists in two consecutive games. Backstrom lead rookies in assist and was 2nd in points. Backstrom had a better +/- then Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews and had less PIM's.

Other players nominated-Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews

Prediction-I think that Kane will win. Kane is American and plays for an original 6 team. The NHL wants to promote hockey in America so I think Kane will win.

Boudreau is nominated for the Jack Adams(coach of the year) trophy. Boudreau had a record of 37-17-7 in 61 games. He took over the Caps team on November 22, The Caps record was 6-14-1 and the Caps were in last place in the SouthEast division and last in the Eastern Conference. Boudreau led the team to their first SouthEast division title in 7 years.

Other coaches nominated-Mike Babcock, Guy Carbonneau

Prediction-I think that Boudreau wins. People love a good story and that's what Boudreau is. Boudreau coached 17 years in the minor league before he got his chance in the NHL.

Ok, so that's my preview for the NHL awards.

Here's the Ovechkin news. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/capitalsinsider/2008/06/city_to_honor_ovechkin_if_he_w.html

If Ovechkin wins the Hart trophy tomorrow, the city of D.C. is going to honor Ovechkin. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty will present Ovechkin with the keys to the city during a fan celebration. The celebration will begin at 4 p.m. and will be on the steps of Wilson building. The celebration will be open to the public.

Development Camp

Capitals Summer Development Camp On Ice Schedule-----Location-Kettler Ice Plex in Arlington, VA.

Sunday, July 6----Players arrive

Monday, July 7----Group A on ice at 10 a.m.; Group B on ice at 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday, July 8----Group B on ice at 10 a.m.; Group A on ice at 2:30 p.m.

Wednesday, July ----Group A on ice at 10 a.m.; Group B on ice at 11:15 a.m.;scrimmage from 3:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, July 10----Group B on ice at 10 a.m.; Group A on ice at 11:15 a.m.;scrimmage from 3:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Friday, July 11----Group A on ice at 10 a.m.; Group B on ice at 11:45 a.m.

Saturday, July 12----Scrimmage from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; players depart

http://capitals.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=365498

Top prospects Karl Alzner, Semen Varlamov, Josh Godfrey, Sasha Pokulok, Michal Neuvirth, Francois Bouchard, Mathieu Perreault will all be at the camp. Also the newly drafted players on June 20-21 will be there. I'll post the entire roster when it comes out.

I'll be at Kettler Ice Plex watching the prospects. It is free to the public. I'll be posting updates from the scrimages. It should be fun.

1st blog entry

So this is my 1st blog entry. I'll tell you a little about me. I'm a huge Caps fan and I want to let as many people know about the Caps as possible. I'll have a new entry almost every day. Anything that happens with the Caps will be in the blog. I'll also post some stuff from around the NHL.