The Washington Capitals announced Friday afternoon that they have loaned 2023 second-round draft pick Andrew Cristall to the Kelowna Rockets in the Western Hockey League. Cristall made his NHL debut Thursday night in the Capitals 4-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings. Cristall skated 12:15, had an assist and was -1.
Training Camp Roster Update: #Caps loan forward Andrew Cristall to Kelowna (WHL). Washington’s updated training camp roster can be found here: https://t.co/IQKfJtpZln
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) September 29, 2023
The Capitals selected left-winger Cristall in the second round (40thpick overall) of the 2023 NHL Entry draft on Thursday. He is rated as a dynamic player who adds extra flash to every play. Evaluators say he is an inventive playmaker, who starts plays, builds them, and puts on the finishing touches. He beats defenders with dekes, head fakes, and other means of deception.
Cristall was born in Vancouver, British Columbia on February 4, 2005. He has a brother named Tyler, three years his senior, who played three years in the Junior A level British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) and last season played with St. Lawrence University in the NCAA.
Coincidentally, Andrew played on the same youth team as former Capitals’ defenseman Karl Alzner, the Burnaby Winter Club. Cristall played for four years at the St. Georges School, scoring 43 goals for them in 2019-20 before the pandemic paused hockey.
UPDATED ROSTER
I thought Mr. Cristall acquitted himself very well in the Caps’ preseason. Another great selection by Mahoney, inc.