The Washington Capitals find themselves in a dogfight in the standings of the Metropolitan Division with 56 points through 52 games played. The Carolina Hurricanes, Washington’s opponent in the second round last spring, is the only team to surge away from the grouping with 67 points through 51 games. As the team battles to return to the NHL’s playoff tournament, a well-stocked cupboard of Capitals prospects continues to develop and provide an optimistic future for the red, white, and blue.
Capitals’ 2025 NHL Draft Report
Jackson Crowder, a fifth-round choice at the 2025 NHL Draft, looks to be on pace to be a potential late-round steal for Washington. The 18-year-old center has tallied 21 points in 24 games for the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League (USHL), an increase from 14 points over 25 games in 2024-25. Crowder will graduate to the college scene to play for the Ohio State Buckeyes (NCAA) in the 2026-27 campaign.
Lynden Lakovic, Washington’s top selection last summer, is currently captain of the Moose Jaw Warriors in the Western Hockey League (WHL). The 19-year-old has recorded 29 points in 22 games in his final season in the league. With the Western league’s trade deadline passed, Lakovic will finish the remainder of the 2025-26 season to chase a postseason spot with Moose Jaw.
Maxim Schafer, a third-round pick for Washington, has compiled 30 points in 32 games for the Chicoutimi Sagueneens of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The 18-year-old winger registered three points in five games for Germany at the 2026 World Junior Championship (WJC).
Hutson Inbound After His Second NCAA Season?
Cole Hutson, a second-round selection at the 2024 NHL Draft, could’ve made Washington’s roster if he hadn’t returned to Boston College to chase an NCAA championship that Ryan Leonard and friends missed out on last spring. The 19-year-old has produced at a point-per-game pace with 23 points for the Eagles over 23 NCAA games.
Huston recorded four points in three games for Team USA at the 2026 WJC, in which the scary-looking injury to the blueliner was as big a story as the team’s disappointing quarterfinal round exit on home soil.
Terik Parascak, the 17th overall pick by the Capitals in 2024, has continued to dominate in the WHL. The 19-year-old has recorded 49 points in 39 games with the Prince George Cougars. He is on pace for a 78-point season in 2025-26.
Related: Get to Know New Capitals Draft Pick Terik Parascak
Three players from Washington’s draft class two years ago are developing with the Hershey Bears in the American Hockey League (AHL). Ilya Protas leads the way with 31 points in 38 games to start the 2025-26 season, which garnered a spot at the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic, a message that he was surprised with by a familiar face in Washington:
The Pro Bros 🫶🏻
There’s no better way to find out you’re an @TheAHL all-star than from your big brother! pic.twitter.com/Sm8pL5pMVw
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) January 15, 2026
Eriks Mateiko, a third-round selection in 2024, has recorded six points in 27 games. Leon Muggli, a second-round choice from that draft, missed a 20-game span for Hershey after sustaining an upper-body injury in October. The 19-year-old amassed five points in five games for Switzerland at the 2026 WJC.
Nick Kempf, Washington’s fourth-round choice, has struggled through a tough season at the University of Notre Dame (NCAA) with a 4-16-1 record, a 3.79 goals-against average (GAA), and a .889 save percentage (SV%) in a vastly improved college hockey scene. Kempf appeared in four games for Team USA at the 2026 WJC with a 1-2-0 record, a 2.57 GAA, and a .895 SV%.
Hershey Training the Rest of the 2022 & 2023 Draft Classes
While the first-round selections from the 2022 Draft (Ivan Miroshnichenko) and 2023 Draft (Leonard) have appeared at the NHL level in 2025-26, the remainder of the prospects from those two draft classes are developing at Hershey.
Andrew Cristall, Washington’s second-round choice in June 2023, has recorded 32 points in 38 games for the Bears. Cam Allen, a fourth-round selection, has registered seven points in 22 AHL games. Ryan Chesley, the 37th overall pick at the 2025 NHL Draft, has amassed 10 points in his first 38 professional games after a successful career at the University of Minnesota and the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP).
Important Decisions Ahead for Washington Over the Next 6 Weeks
Even with questions swirling around the status of star forward Alex Ovechkin for a 22nd NHL season next fall, the future is very bright for Washington moving forward. The Capitals’ big decision over the next few weeks is whether to buy into an extended postseason run from this current Washington group or mortgage some of the enticing prospects in the system for the chance to infuse additional talent into the lineup.
Either way, keep an eye on general manager (GM) Chris Patrick as the NHL moves towards the roster freeze for the 2026 Winter Olympics and the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. The choices he makes will have a massive impact on the direction of the Capitals’ franchise, especially if Washington’s GM decides to move a treasured prospect for NHL reinforcements.
