Washington Capitals 2023 second round draft pick (#40 overall) forward Andrew Cristall has been named the Western Hockey League’s player of the week.
In three games last week, Cristall had a goal and eight assists, and scored the game winner in a 4-3 shootout win in Tri-City. All eight helpers were primary assists.
Andrew Cristall extends his point streak to 7️⃣ games with this power play tally. @AndrewCristall x #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/WuC7HoOfKQ
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) October 22, 2023
The 18-year-old had four assists in a 6-3 win over Swift Current Wednesday, two more helpers in Friday’s win in Tri-City and a goal and two assists in a 6-5 win over Vancouver Saturday.
The broadcaster said Marek Rocak scored, but it's very clearly Jackson Gillespie and his FIRST WHL goal scored in this video….on an outstanding pass from Andrew Cristall.#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/osmDI8xuuG
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) October 21, 2023
Cristall has amassed five goals and 14 assists over the course of a seven game point streak which has moved him into fourth place in league scoring with 23 points.
I love Cristall. He’s just the kinda pick we need. Star potential with a good attitude. He loves playing hockey. Miro, Cristall and Leonard all look like players to me. It’s only a question of how good they get. These guys look like fantastic draft picks as do McMichael, Iorio and Protas.
I think they should have found a bigger challenge for Cristall this season.
The CHL-NHL transfer agreement is messed up, and it will definitely hurt a player like Cristall. The agreement stipulates that players drafted from the CHL, and don’t turn 20 until after January (I think that’s the cutoff date) of that season, can’t play minor pro hockey that year. In other words, CHL players can’t play in the AHL, or ECHL, if they’re under 20. It’s the NHL or back to juniors. I think Cristall would really benefit from AHL competition next season, so he probably makes the Caps, at the beginning of 2024, at least initially.