Photo: CHL

The Washington Capitals selected forward Brett Leason with the 56th overall pick at the 2019 NHL Draft in Vancouver on Saturday. Leason, 20, has played the past two seasons with the CHL’s Prince Albert Raiders.

With the 56th pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, the Washington Capitals select forward Brett Leason from the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL!#ALLCAPS | #CapsDraft pic.twitter.com/t3APgg3VS8

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) June 22, 2019

Leason, who is listed as 6’4″ and 201 pounds, notched 36 goals, 83 points, and a +55 rating in 55 games this past season. In his rookie year with Prince Albert, he posted 15 goals, 32 points, and a -6 rating in 54 games.

He won the 2019 E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence, which is awarded to a candidate who best shows commitment to excellence through strength of character, competitiveness, and athleticism.

He will likely be at the team’s development camp at MedStar Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Virginia next week.

Future Considerations called Leason “savvy with and without the puck” and said that “his hockey IQ is the backbone of his game and he loves to use his big frame in puck battles.”

McKeen’s Hockey said that he “has an NHL caliber wrist shot, with a super quick release” and that “he positions himself very well on the puck and has plus hand-eye coordination.”

Leason was held scoreless and posted a -4 rating in three games during the Memorial Cup.

The Capitals spent their first two selections of the 2019 NHL Draft on forwards with an effort to improve one of the league’s worst forward prospect groups after selecting center Connor McMichael 25th overall on Friday.

2019 Second Round Draft Pick (56th Overall) @Bleason7 talks with the media from Vancouver for the first time as a member of the Washington Capitals. #ALLCAPS | #CapsDraft pic.twitter.com/cINdGOUVxt

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) June 22, 2019

Leason was ranked 25th among North American forwards by NHL Central Scouting and 34th overall by TSN’s Bob McKenzie.

By Harrison Brown

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