NHL Prospect Watch – Washington Capitals
In the lead-up to the 2023-24 NHL season, we’re taking a look at the current and former WHL talent in each NHL Club’s prospect pool. In this 32-part series, we’ll highlight the WHL players signed to an NHL contract or recently drafted, 25 years of age or younger with 50 or fewer NHL games played. Join us for a brand-new season of NHL Prospect Watch!
We continue with the prospect pool of the Washington Capitals.
Alexander Alexeyev
Former Red Deer Rebels defenceman Alexander Alexeyev enjoyed his most productive NHL season to date in 2022-23, appearing in 32 games for the Washington Capitals. Over that span, the former first-round NHL Draft selection recorded five assists. Alexeyev had spent two full seasons with Washington’s AHL affiliate in Hershey, including a 21-point season in 2019-20 that stands as the 23-year-old’s most productive pro season thus far in offensive output. Alexeyev spent three seasons in Red Deer from 2016-17 through 2018-19, totalling 101 points (21G-80A) in 135 career regular season games.
BIG AL RE-UPS‼️
The Washington Capitals have re-signed defenseman Alex Alexeyev to a two-year, $1.65 million contract. Alexeyev's one-way contract will pay him $775,000 in 2023-24 and $875,000 in 2024-25.#ALLCAPS
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) May 2, 2023
Garin Bjorklund
Former Medicine Hat Tigers goaltender Garin Bjorklund is preparing to resume his professional career this fall after missing almost the entire 2022-23 season after undergoing back surgery. Bjorklund, from Grande Prairie, Alta., won his only appearance last season with the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays. A sixth-round pick by the Washington Capitals in the 2020 NHL Draft, Bjorklund spent his entire WHL career with the Medicine Hat Tigers, winning 40 of his 96 regular season outings.
GARIN BJORKLUND 🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/c3UBu0WmE2
— SC Stingrays (@SCStingrays) April 15, 2023
Andrew Cristall
Kelowna Rockets forward Andrew Cristall was selected by the Washington Capitals in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft and signed an entry-level contract with the NHL Club this past summer. Cristall, who hails from Burnaby, B.C., led the Rockets in scoring in 2022-23 with 39 goals and 95 points in 2022-23 despite missing a month of action mid-season due to injury. He was named to the B.C. Division First All-Star Team, and has launched into the 2023-24 campaign with four points from his first three contests with Kelowna. Originally selected eighth-overall by the Rockets in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, Cristall has earned 173 points (71G-102A) in 132 career WHL games.
NEWS | The Washington Capitals have signed forward Andrew Cristall to a three-year entry level contract. Cristall’s contract will carry an average annual value of $810,000 at the NHL level and $82,500 in AHL.#ALLCAPS
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) July 6, 2023
Ryan Hofer
Forward Ryan Hofer is set to begin his professional hockey career this fall after graduating from the WHL in June. Hofer, who hails from Winnipeg, Man., collected 40 goals during the 2022-23 campaign, one he split between the Everett Silvertips and Kamloops Blazers. Hofer continued to be a leader offensively for Kamloops through the post-season, amassing 15 points (8G-7A) during the WHL Playoffs before adding two goals and three assists at the 2023 Memorial Cup. Hofer, who totalled 135 points (71G-64A) in 155 career WHL regular season games with Everett and Kamloops, was selected by the Capitals in the sixth round of the 2022 NHL Draft.
It’s 3-1 🔥🔥🔥 Ryan Hofer nets his first of the game to give us a 2 GOAL LEAD 🔥#WHLPlayoffs #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/97i7Ca79ef
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) May 7, 2023
Brett Hyland
Forward Brett Hyland was selected by the Washington Capitals in the seventh round of the 2023 NHL Draft after scoring 26 goals in 42 games for the Brandon Wheat Kings in 2022-23. The Edmontonian set career bests in all major offensive categories last season, despite missing 26 games. A career Wheat Kings, the 20-year-old has totalled 90 points (45G-45A) in a Brandon sweater since being selected in the second round of the 2018 WHL Draft.
WATCH 📽️ | We caught up with @Capitals prospect Brett Hyland after he was selected in the 2023 #NHLDraft!#MeetTheFuture | @KubotaCanadaLtd | @bdnwheatkings pic.twitter.com/AhQTG5ZdiG
— The WHL (@TheWHL) August 30, 2023
Vincent Iorio
Defenceman Vincent Iorio enjoyed a Championship campaign in his first season of professional hockey, winning the 2023 Calder Cup with the AHL’s Hershey Bears. Along the way, the product of Coquitlam, B.C. made his NHL debut with the Washington Capitals, earning one assist in three appearances. At Hershey, Iorio recorded 22 points (2G-20A) in 63 games, adding a goal and four helpers during the Bears’ run to the AHL title. Iorio spent his entire WHL career with the Brandon Wheat Kings after being selected in the second round of the 2017 WHL Draft; he put up 82 points (21G-61A) in 191 career regular season games while patrolling the Brandon blue line.
"I never thought I'd dream of that, but it was pretty cool."
Vincent Iorio on making his NHL debut and assisting on an Alex Ovechkin goal for his first career point in San Jose.#CapsSharks pic.twitter.com/UoYP3QXiej
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 5, 2023
Lucas Johansen
Hailing from Port Moody, B.C., defenceman Lucas Johansen also played a pivotal role in the Hershey Bears’ AHL Championship season in 2022-23. Johansen collected a goal and six assists over his 40 regular season games, then added two goals and six points during the playoffs, as Hershey claimed the Calder Cup. Johansen also appeared in two contests with the Washington Capitals, bringing his career NHL games played total to three. The 25-year-old was selected 28th-overall by Washington in the 2016 NHL Draft; he won a WHL Championship with the Kelowna Rockets in his rookie campaign of 2014-15 and amassed 98 points (17G-81A) over 202 career regular season games in the WHL, all with the Rockets.
Congrats to former Rocket Lucas Johansen on helping @TheHersheyBears capture @TheAHL' Calder Cup!
📷 @LucasJohansen97 pic.twitter.com/dw4866pEBP
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) June 23, 2023
Beck Malenstyn
Forward Beck Malenstyn added an AHL Calder Cup to his trophy cabinet in 2022-23, helping the Hershey Bears bring a title back to Pennsylvania this past spring. Malenstyn, from White Rock, B.C., finished the AHL regular season with six goals in 40 games, then added eight points (4G-4A) as Hershey raced to the Calder Cup. At the NHL level, Malenstyn got into nine games with Washington in 2022-23, scoring once and totalling two points. Malenstyn won a WHL Championship with the Swift Current Broncos to cap off his WHL career in 2018, appearing in 238 regular season games with the Broncos and Calgary Hitmen, who selected him 18th-overall in the 2013 WHL Draft. Overall, the 25-year-old recorded 128 WHL points, including a 32-goal season with Calgary in 2016-17.
"I think this is probably the best starting block I've had coming into camp. I'm super excited for that opportunity and just trying to make the most of every day."
Beck Malenstyn speaks to the media on his expectations and goals for Training Camp. #ALLCAPS | @MedStarHealth pic.twitter.com/R4ErmChQMz
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 2, 2023
Matthew Phillips
Forward Matthew Phillips is taking his best shot to make the Washington Capitals roster this fall after signing with the Club in July. Phillips led the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers with 36 goals and 76 points in 2022-23, also appearing in two NHL contests with his hometown Calgary Flames, who originally selected him in the sixth round of the 2016 NHL Draft. Phillips joins the Capitals having spent the past five seasons in the Flames organization, collecting double-digit goal totals in each of the four full-length seasons he spent in the AHL with Stockton and Calgary. He was named to the AHL First All-Star Team this past spring. As a WHLer, Phillips spent his entire career with the Victoria Royals, winning Rookie of the Year honours in 2016 as well as a pair of Western Conference First All-Star Team nods in 2017 and 2018. He totalled 281 points (136G-145A) for the Royals over 215 career regular season outings.
No need for your coffee ☕️ this AM, just watch this Phillips OTGWG on repeat ⬇️🔁#ALLCAPS | @Capitals pic.twitter.com/2XTB50XKQ5
— Monumental Sports Network (@MonSportsNet) October 4, 2023
Henrik Rybinski
Forward Henrik Rybinski enters his second season of professional hockey this fall after appearing in 51 regular season games with the AHL’s Hershey Bears in 2022-23. Rybinski, who calls Vancouver, B.C. home, totalled 18 points (5G-13A) over that span and helped the Bears claim the AHL Calder Cup Championship this past spring. Rybinski signed a free-agent contract with the Washington Capitals in 2022 after originally being selected by the Florida Panthers in the NHL Draft. He appeared in 233 WHL regular season games with the Medicine Hat Tigers and Seattle Thunderbirds, totalling 176 career regular season points (50G-126A). Rybinski capped off his time in the WHL by helping the Seattle Thunderbirds reach the WHL Championship Series in 2022, collecting 18 points (4G-14A) in 19 post-season games during the 2022 WHL Playoffs.
Being shorthanded is no problem for @TheHersheyBears and Henrik Rybinski. pic.twitter.com/DraMXMofHI
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) February 12, 2023
Riley Sutter
Forward Riley Sutter enters the 2023-24 season with more championship aspirations after winning the AHL Calder Cup with the Hershey Bears last spring. Sutter, from Calgary, Alta., put up six points for the Bears during the Club’s post-season run after earning 12 points (5G-7A) during the regular season, his fourth with Hershey. Sutter, selected in the third round of the 2018 NHL Draft by the Washington Capitals, spent four full seasons in the WHL with the Everett Silvertips. He topped out at 25 goals and 53 points during the 2017-18 WHL season, one which saw Everett win the Western Conference Championship for the second time in Club history.
RILEY SUTTER 🤝 OT HERO #CVvsHER | #CalderCup pic.twitter.com/Nif9sbBCjL
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) June 14, 2023
Alexander Suzdalev
A third-round pick by the Washington Capitals in the 2022 NHL Draft, forward Alexander Suzdalev acclimated well to North American hockey in 2022-23, scoring 38 goals and 86 points for the Regina Pats. Suzdalev, who was born in Russia but represents Sweden internationally, added 10 points (3G-7A) in seven playoff games for Regina and for his efforts, he was named to the CHL All-Rookie Team. Suzdalev signed an entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals in July of 2022 after spending two seasons playing at the U20 level with HV71 in Sweden.
🎥HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT🎥
We've gone ahead and added 'part-time lacrosse player' on Alexander Suzdalev's resume.@WHLPats | @Capitals | #WHLHoN pic.twitter.com/7voZ1eQTRe
— The WHL (@TheWHL) February 18, 2023