The Washington Capitals had a disappointing season. That’s putting it lightly. After missing the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons, big changes are coming in 2023-24.
One of the the Capitals’ primary goals this offseason is simple: get younger.
This season we got a glimpse of the future. Aliaksei Protas played 58 games and had a strong rookie season, putting up 15 points (four goals, 11 assists). However, former head coach Peter Laviolette was sometimes reluctant to utilize him.
When Caps fans think of the top prospects in the organization, they think of guys like Connor McMichael and Hendrix Lapierre. However, those players are still developing and have not been consistent at the NHL level whenever their names have been called upon. One player that has shown consistency is Joe Snively.
In his 24-game NHL career, the Herndon, Virginia native, has 11 points (six goals, five assists). In 12 games played this season, he had four points (two goals, two assists). While those are not eye-catching numbers, the eye-test showed that the 27-year-old is one of the most effective young prospects in the organization.
This season in Hershey, he has 27 points (nine goals, 18 assists), which is ninth on the Bears.
What makes the Yale product stand out is how hungry he is on pucks. He is a buzz-saw, winning puck battles to create scoring opportunities. His best game this season was a two-point night against the Carolina Hurricanes back on Feb. 14.
The organization knows what he is capable of, but childhood friends have known about his competitive hunger for a while.
Ontario Reign forward Ture Linden trains with Snively in the offseason. While they never played directly together on the Washington Little Caps because of age difference, a then 10-year-old Linden looked up to him.
“I remember watching one of their practices and he was just relentless on pucks and all over the place. It always seems like he has endless energy,” Linden said. “I think he has that edge to him which is why he is where he is.”
That drive and hunger is the type of young player that Washington desperately needs in their upcoming campaign.
Snively also takes those traits to practice as well, even if he is not in the lineup.
“That’s just how he is,” Linden said. “I don’t think he has an off switch when he’s on the ice.”
Snively is a versatile player that can play anywhere in the lineup. This is very important. As fans know, the core is aging, it gets banged up frequently and we don’t know the future’s of forwards Evgeny Kuznetsov and Anthony Mantha.
Snively is hitting the prime of his career and the Caps are on the decline. Whoever the next bench boss will be, should take a good look at the local kid and put him strongly consider a roster spot for 82 games.
He will be just as hungry for a roster spot next season just as he is on pucks in training camp in September.
By Jacob Cheris
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