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.