Photo: @Capitals
The second and final day of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft saw the Washington Capitals select a total of six players after taking left wing Ivan Miroshnichenko with the 20th overall selection on July 7. At the forefront of these final draft selections was Assistant General Manager Ross Mahoney.
Formerly the team’s Director of Amateur Scouting for 16 seasons, Mahoney is a veteran in navigating draft days and made the announcement of the team’s first-round pick a day earlier. Mahoney previously expressed his opinion that later rounds offered great potential in players.
“We’re really, really happy with the guys that we got. I thought we got really good value with the players we took, and the round that we got them in. There were a couple for sure, a couple of them I didn’t think would be there when we picked. Some of the others I thought would be there, but really, really happy.
With their second pick in the 2022 draft, acquired from the New Jersey Devils in a deal for goaltender Vitek Vanecek and the Caps’ own second-round selection, the team selected defenseman Ryan Chesley, a right-handed blueliner who was touted a solid, two-way defenseman and among the best in his age group according to some pundits.
“With Ryan Chesley, where we were picking originally going into today, I didn’t know if this was going to work. You’re crossing your fingers and hoping that he’s gonna be there and I wasn’t so sure he would’ve been. We’re really, really happy to get him. I think his offensive ability is probably a little bit underrated. He can really skate, he competes. He’s really strong for his age. I think there is a lot more offense there than he was allowed to show.”
Ryan Chesley talks with the media after being selected with the 37th pick in the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal.#CapsDraft pic.twitter.com/HoUAWuz7lM
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) July 8, 2022
The second pick the Capitals received in the Vanecek trade was used to select Alexander Suzdalev 70th overall. The 6’2″, 18-year old left wing spent last season with the HV71 junior 20 team in Sweden, posting 51 points in 45 games.
“I think he’s got some untapped potential also. You know he ended up playing on the Swedish, under-18 team for the first time in November, then was on the team in the championships in May. Our European scouts really spoke highly of him. But really good skater…and he can score, make plays. So I think we got a really good gem where we picked him.”
Late picks in the NHL Entry Draft at times do not receive as much high-profile coverage as earlier picks, however many players across the NHL have proven that there can be great finds in the later rounds. With the 149th pick in 2022, the Capitals selected Center Jake Karabela.
“He’s like a 5’10” and a half, 175-pound guy that can really skate, really smart. Good penalty killer, unselfish. I think at that point in the draft, when you get somebody who can skate and think the game really well, it’s a real bonus.”
The Caps selected a total of seven players, consisting of five forwards and two defenseman. Mahoney’s full comments can be seen below:
Assistant general manager Ross Mahoney talks with the media about the Capitals’ six selections on Day 2 of the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal.#ALLCAPS | #CapsDraft pic.twitter.com/iaJLvOtyNI
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) July 8, 2022
By Michael Fleetwood
