Photo: Steven Ellis/The Hockey News
Another NHL Entry Draft is in the books, as the 2022 draft concluded on Friday. The Washington Capitals were busy, selecting seven players: three left wingers, two centers, and two defenseman.
The Capitals had three primary position targets: stock-up on left-wingers, add to the center depth and add a right-handed defensemen. Here’s a recap of the Capitals selection.
First Round – Pick #20 — Ivan Miroshnichenko, Left Wing
Photo: @Capitals
The Capitals led off their draft selections on Thursday night by selecting left winger Ivan Miroshnichenko. Miroshnichenko was born in Ussuriysk, Primorsky Krai on February 4, 2004. His hometown is in far Eastern Russia, not far from the Chinese border, but he moved around a lot to chase his hockey dream.
Last season, he played for Omsk Krylia until he was diagnosed with Hopkins Lymphoma. He is currently in remission and was cleared for skating in June. Before his cancer diagnosis, scouts had perceived him as a top 10 pick. More on the selection here.
Second Round – Pick #37 – Ryan Chesley, Defenseman
On Friday morning, the Capitals traded goaltender, Vitek Vanecek, and a second-round draft pick (#46) to the New Jersey Devils for the Devils’ second-round pick (pick #37) and their third-round pick (pick #70). This allowed the Capitals to move up in the second round where they selected defenseman Ryan Chesley.
Chesley was a top-four defenseman for the U.S. NTDP this season, often playing on both special teams units. He represented Team USA’s Under 18 team during the last two seasons and Team USA’s Under 17 in 2020-21. He’s committed to the University of Minnesota. More on the selection here.
Third Round – Pick #70 – Alexander Suzdalev, Left Wing
The Capitals acquired an extra third-round pick, i.e. pick #70 overall, as part of the Vitek Vanecek trade. They used that pick to select left-winger, Alexander Suzdalev. Suzdalev was born in Khabarovsk, Russia on March 5, 2004, but moved to Sweden when he was seven years old because his father, Anatoly, signed a contract to play bandy for a Swedish club. Thus, he holds dual citizenship for both Sweden and Russia and represents Sweden internationally.
Photo: HV71
Last season, he played for the HV71 Hockey Club at various levels, primarily with the Junior 20 and Under level. He is considered to be a good playmaker with size. More on the selection here.
Third Round – Pick #85 – Ludwig Persson, Left Wing
The Capitals drafted left-winger Ludwig Persson with their original third-round pick, i.e. pick #85. Persson was born on October 8, 2003, in Gothenburg, Sweden.
He is considered to be a smooth-skating, offensively-minded, forward who needs to round out the rest of his game in order to earn better opportunities to let his offense shine. He possesses legitimate upside as a scoring threat at the NHL level.
Last season persson played for the Frolunda Hockey Club, primarily at the Junior 20 National Level, but played 10 games with their top club in the Swedish Elite League (SEL). More on the selection here.
Fifth Round – Pick #149 – Jake Karabela, Center
The Capitals drafted center, Jake Karabela, with their fifth-round pick at #149 overall. He was born on March 7, 2004, in Guelph, Ontario. Last season, he played for the junior team in his hometown of Guelph. In prior seasons, he played at various levels, also in his hometown.
Photo: Guelph Storm
Karabela is considered to be a gifted two-way forward who can read the ice very well and has a strong awareness of transition. He is considered to be a good neutral zone defender. More on the selection here.
Sixth Round – Pick #118 – Ryan Hofer, Center
The Capitals drafted center, Ryan Hofer, with their sixth-round pick at #181 overall. He was born on May 10, 2020, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Hofer had been passed over in the last two NHL drafts but his game has improved greatly this past season, playing for the Everett Silvertips in the WHL.
Photo: Everett Silvertips
He is considered to be a big-bodied forward with a consistently high level of competitiveness. He can play all three positions. He also can even drop the gloves on occasion. More on the selection here.
Seventh Round – Pick #213 – David Gucciardi, Defenseman
The Capitals’ last selection in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft was defenseman, Davie Gucciardi, chosen with pick #213 overall. He was born in Toronto, Ontario on October 9, 2002.
Last season, he played with the Michigan State Spartans in the Big Ten. He had been passed over once prior in the draft before getting selected this year.
Photo: Spartan News Wire
When he is on the ice, he demands the puck, gets it, passes it, and then joins the rush to get it that day. More on the selection here.
Onward And Upward
Capitals Assistant General Manager, Ross Mahoney summed up the draft by saying, “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.
Many of the Capitals 2022 draft selections are now on their way to northern Virginia for the Capitals development camp, which begins on Monday.
By Diane Doyle
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Washington Capitals 2022 First-Round Pick Ivan Miroshnichenko: “To Join the Capitals Is A Tremendous Honor”
Capitals Select Defenseman Ryan Chesley With Second Round Pick Of 2022 NHL Entry Draft
Capitals Select Left-Wing Alexander Suzdalev With 70th Overall Pick In 2022 Draft
Capitals Select Forward Ludwig Persson With 85th Overall Pick In 2022 NHL Draft
Capitals Select Center Jake Karabela 149th Overall In 2022 Draft
Capitals Select Defenseman David Gucciardi With The 213th Overall Pick In 2022 NHL Entry Draft
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“We’re Really, Really Happy With the Guys We Got.” Washington Capitals Assistant General Manager Ross Mahoney Evaluates the Rest of the Team’s 2022 NHL Entry Draft Selections
By Diane Doyle
Just once I’d like some team’s GM/draft leader to say:
“You know, we are really disappointed with the guys we ended up with. None of the guys we really wanted were there when we picked, so we settled for these guys who we think have no real chance of ever making it to the NHL, or even the AHL. We aren’t even sure we should bother bringing them to development camp, since there’s no reason to waste the money.”
Instead we get the same “we love the guys we got and didn’t think they’d be there” speech every year.
While the Caps have drafted reasonably well in the past under Mahoney’s guidance, you still have to take his and GMBM’s comments with several grains of salt. Like every draft class where the team isn’t picking number in the top 5, each of these kids has signifcant issues that need to be addressed — that’s why they were available when the Caps picked.
That said, they appear to have picked several kids with good overall tool sets, which bodes well for a couple — or even a few — to make it to the NHL… in a few years. We’ll see… in a few years.
Haha… do you really expect any GM to say that. That is just a rediculous comment.
And this years draft was actually good. They were ranked 12th on Day 1 and 6th on day 2. they focused (and got) exactly what they wanted with upside swings, speed, a highly regarded dee, and a couple of older players (2003, 2002).
They have had some not so good drafts… this wasn’t one of them.
Of course I don’t expect any GM to say that.
As to your other points, draft rankings are notoriously inaccurate, particularly for the NHL, and most definitely the day after the draft. Almost all these kids are years away from an NHL career, if they make it at all. Check back in 5-6 years to see how many of these guys turned out to be NHL players, and which, if any, became stars. I’m pulling for all of them, but realistically a good draft means 3-4 of them play any NHL games, a great draft is if any of those 3-4 become stars.
Given the relative longevity of hockey players (certainly vs. football players) a team only needs to average 2-3 legit NHL players per draft to keep the roster full. The Caps have been able to do that over the past couple of decades, which is why they win a lot of games.
But because they win a lot of games, they pick late in most drafts, which makes it very hard to draft superstars. That’s why they have gambled the past few years on kids with injury histories, or other issues. If they pan out the Caps keep winning. If not, we may get one of those lottery picks again soon.
We are mostly saying the same thing. I agree that we only need 2-3 to be NHL players and I think Miro has a chance to be a superstar and likely a top 6 player. I think Chesley will be a solid NHL player and possibly a top 4. One of our third rounds will be an NHL player and possible both. The others are wildcards as 4-7 always are. But i like what they picked both in skill set and age (couple of older players). We made some good goalie moves with FA signings out of college but not a lot of goalie depth this year. I suspect thy will draft a goalie fairly early next year.
But my comment (A bit firery for me I admit) stems from I am just tired of everyone bashing GMBM and Caps leadership. They made a decision to support those who brought the cup. That too was a calculated risk. Now we are moving towards youth which i also is a good move. Will be interesting to see how FA shakes out.
Lol, no doubt. “We drafted some guys, but…..” 😂
Good recap Diane. Love the chart. One name that should be added in Hershey RD Aaron Ness (AHL contract). Look forward to the next update late next week after a couple of more moves.
Good call DWG, added and updated chart. He’s under a Bears contract, so he would need an NHL contract to callup. But I included those other, younger prospects who are also under a Bears contract, but seems so that they don’t eat one of Capitals 50 contracts.
GMBM is rolling the dice to a degree… AA was a top 10 pick but had injuries… HL same… Mirsh same… if they work out then great.
I am feeling good about the PL… In 5 years, we MIGHT see CM, HL and Protas down the middle… Hope to see Brett L, Joe S and Beck M on the wings… long way away…
On D, hope to see AA and Chelsey…
and I still think they should draft a G every year ASSUMING they feel he can play in the NHL…
Might they invite a goalie to D-camp and sign him to a tryout contract with Hershey or the ECHL. That’s what happened when Caps got Copley. They didn’t draft any goalies that year but invited Copley to D-camp and then signed him.
With you Anon. It’s definitely a roll of the dice with the players you noted. He’s swinging for the fences, because we always have middle to late round picks. I think it;s a good philosophy…if it works.