For the primary time since drafting Karl Alzner fifth total in 2007, the Washington Capitals get to decide on within the top-10. Their eighth total choose within the 2023 NHL Draft provides them the posh of with the ability to choose from a spread of high quality gamers in a deep draft and shall be a figuring out issue within the path the group plans on taking sooner or later.
If the Capitals wish to proceed the pattern of getting European star gamers, as they’ve prior to now with Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov, they’re in luck this season. On this article, I’ll talk about the likeliest European draft picks the group might make with their coveted choose, in no explicit order.
Rebuilding the Core With Dalibor
Dalibor Dvorský is without doubt one of the many gifted forwards this draft has to supply. The Slovak centerman is thought for his imaginative and prescient, playmaking, and skill to assault with the puck. This season, he performed for AIK of the HockeyAllsvenskan, the second-tier hockey league in Sweden, and cut up his time between its huge membership and its junior group. His positioning within the draft has various all through the season with scouts rating him wherever between seventh and fifteenth total. Dalibor Dvorsky, Group Slovakia (Picture by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Pictures)
Drafting the 6-foot-1 ahead can be useful for the Capitals in the event that they wish to begin fascinated with getting elite forwards to switch an ageing core. With Ovechkin, Backstrom and Kuznetsov both nearing the tip of their careers or being concerned in commerce talks, the group would possibly want to start out fascinated with rebuilding, or at the least retooling for the longer term and Dvorský may very well be a place to begin. As well as, the very fact he already has expertise taking part in in high leagues in opposition to mature gamers may very well be an asset.
The counter-argument with regards to drafting him can be that many non-European forwards are projected to be higher picks. Most significantly, nevertheless, some scouts have been questioning his skating skill, which greater than ever is a vital asset on this period of hockey. This choose finally comes all the way down to the Capitals’ wants and which forwards are nonetheless obtainable by the point the eighth-overall choose comes round.
The Excessive Rising David Reinbacher
In a earlier article, I mentioned why Reinbacher can be a strong choose for the Capitals on this draft. The Austrian defenseman’s inventory has been rising because the starting of the 12 months, with some scouts even speculating that he may very well be chosen fourth or fifth total. He’s identified for his stellar defensive positioning, not often making errors in his personal finish. Whereas his offensive skills aren’t as potent, he’s projected to be a top-pairing defenseman able to logging huge minutes and taking part in in key conditions for his group.
Drafting the 6-foot-2 defenseman can be useful for the Capitals in the event that they wish to replenish their prospects on the backend and if they need a participant who shall be near being NHL-ready, if he isn’t already. The Capitals haven’t drafted a defenseman within the first spherical since choosing Alexander Alexeyev in 2018. Since then, all of their first-round picks in Ivan Miroshnichenko, Hendrix Lapierre and Connor McMichael have all been forwards. High quality defensemen are onerous to return by, so possibly it’s time to get a defenseman.
The counter-argument with regards to drafting Reinbacher can be that this 12 months is crammed with proficient forwards, and whereas he’s skillful, he will not be one of the best participant obtainable on the time. This choose finally comes down as to if or not Capitals administration sees a necessity for protection, and in the event that they wish to choose one of the best participant obtainable based mostly on their positional wants.
The Wildcard Matvei Michkov
Matvei Michkov is one of the best definition of a high-risk, high-reward choose on this draft. The Russian winger is regarded by most scouts because the second most skillful participant within the draft behind consensus first-overall choose Connor Bedard. However whichever group selects Michkov should contemplate the various factors bringing him down within the rankings.
With reference to ability, basic managers know he can carry out in huge moments within the NHL albeit being restricted in his taking part in time given the Russian and Belarussian bans from worldwide hockey tournaments. However even earlier than that point, he had proved himself. So on this regard, drafting Michkov can be a dream come true for the Capitals. He’s as a lot of an offensive menace as you may get. He’s fast, he’s received good arms, he is aware of what to do with the puck and he has a improbable shot. If the Caps had been to get him, he can be an ideal mentee for Ovechkin 一 if it will get to that time.
Newest Information & Highlights
In terms of drafting Michkov, there are a lot of uncertainties. Sure, that could be a very cliché assertion given it’s the identical for all prospects, however for him it’s completely different. First, he has a contract within the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), Russia’s high league, till the tip of the 2025-26 season. It’s true that he would make a direct affect at an affordable worth if he joins the Capitals, however it’s uncertain that he could even come to North America even after the contract ends, whether or not it’s as a result of he doesn’t wish to or for causes past his management. In the long run, this choose is a big danger. You would both get a generational expertise and one of the best Russian prospect since Ovechkin, or you could possibly waste a coveted choose on a participant that may’t even be a part of the group. The Michkov state of affairs will make a pleasant case research in years to return.
Different Honorable Mentions And The Choice
The consensus to date is that the three names already talked about on this article are the three more than likely European gamers to be drafted eighth by the Capitals. However with the 2023 Draft projected to be deep, there are very slim probabilities the group might make a shock choose on a participant ranked additional down within the first spherical.
On offense, the Capitals might take a look at Eduard Šalé, who’s now ranked fourth amongst European skaters after sliding within the rankings. This season, he performed for Brno Kometa within the Czech Extraliga, the highest males’s league in his nation. He was additionally a part of a powerful Czechia roster that misplaced to Canada within the Finals of the World Junior Championship (WJC), placing up one aim and 5 assists in seven video games as a 17-year-old. He’s identified for his passing and playmaking skill and has an underrated shot, making him a professional offensive menace.
On protection, Axel Sandin Pellikka is thought to be the second-best defenseman of this draft. Equally to Šalé, his draft inventory has dropped all year long after being overtaken by Reinbacher. The 5-foot-11 Swede nonetheless has potential and is thought for his skill to carry out offensively and make fast choices with or with out the puck.
It’s unlikely the group makes this choose as a result of it’s tough to move up on such a proficient 12 months for forwards. Nonetheless, if Reinbacher is off the board and the Capitals actually desire a defenseman that might quarterback their energy play sooner or later, they might presumably take a swing at him.
In the long run, the Capitals ought to get one of the best prospect they’ve had in years whatever the participant they choose with the eighth choose. They’ve many high quality decisions in the event that they flip in the direction of a European participant relying on their priorities going ahead.