NHL Prospect Watch: Washington Capitals
Ahead of the 2025-26 hockey season, we’re diving into the WHL prospect pool for each of the NHL’s 32 teams. This series will highlight current and former WHL players who are signed to an NHL contract, have recently been drafted by an NHL team, or meet the NHL’s definition of a rookie.
Capital gains as Washington continues to build out strong contingent of WHL prospects.
Garin Bjorklund
Former Medicine Hat Tigers goaltender Garin Bjorklund is looking to build upon a stellar 2024-25 campaign with the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays.
In his third professional season, the 23-year-old product of Grande Prairie, Alta., went 21-4-3 with a 2.02 goals-against average (GAA), .927 save percentage (SV%), and one shutout. That effort earned him a one-year, two-way contract with the Washington Capitals this summer, and another opportunity to take another step.
Aside from his 29 ECHL appearance last season, Bjorklund saw action in two AHL games with the Hershey Bears, going 2-0-0 with a 1.49 GAA and .942 SV%.
Prior to his time in the Capitals system, Bjorklund was a steady presence between the pipes for the Medicine Hat Tigers, including during a rebuilding period. Over three seasons, the 6-foot-2, 174-pound puckstopper secured a record of 40-48-4 with a 3.50 GAA, .892 SV%, and three shutouts. He was originally selected by the Tigers in the first round (21st overall) of the 2017 WHL Draft.
Bjorklund was selected by the Capitals in the sixth round (179th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft.
GARIN BJORKLUND, HOW?!😱@tigershockey | @Capitals pic.twitter.com/GxtVtjN6tj
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) February 17, 2022
Andrew Cristall
No one scored more points in the WHL last season than Andrew Cristall. That’s a simple fact.
The 20-year-old product of Burnaby, B.C., led the WHL with 132 points (48G-84A) to take home the Bobby Clarke Trophy, and finished as runner-up for WHL Player of the Year honours.
Having posted back-to-back seasons with 110 points or more, no one should be questioning Cristall’s ability to generate offense at an elite level.
Over four WHL seasons, the 5-foot-10, 183-pound Cristall was named to WHL All-Star Teams on three occasions – twice a first team all-star and once a second team all-star.
Splitting the 2024-25 season between the Kelowna Rockets and Spokane Chiefs, Cristall helped pace the Chiefs to a Western Conference Championship and a deep playoff run that ultimately ended in defeat at the hands of the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL Championship Series.
Cristall’s post-season run in 2025 was one for the ages, as he rattled off 41 points, including 21 goals, in 19 WHL playoff games.
Selected by the Capitals in the second round (40th overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft, Cristall became the first WHL player of the 21st century to collect 400 career points when he registered a primary assist on a power-play goal by Berkly Catton on Friday, March 7. By the end of the season, Cristall’s career regular season log included 412 points (157G-255A) in only 248 games.
Cristall was originally selected by the Kelowna Rockets in the first round (eighth overall) of the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft.
BUBBLE BOY IS AT IT AGAIN!
Andrew Cristall makes it goals in EIGHT STRAIGHT to open up the scoring for the @spokanechiefs. @Capitals | #WHLPlayoffs | #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/9rG2MVjhuP
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) May 2, 2025
Zac Funk
After stringing together three quality seasons, Zac Funk completed his WHL career with a bang, exploding for 67 goals and 123 points with the Prince George Cougars in 2023-24. His 67 goals led the entire WHL.
That effort was good enough to earn him a three-year, entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals, as an undrafted free agent.
Funk’s first pro season didn’t go to plan. He split the campaign between the AHL’s Hershey Bears and ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays, appearing in a combined 26 games while registering a combined 13 points (5G-8A).
With two years to go on his entry-level deal, there is plenty of runway for Funk to show he belongs.
Originally selected by the Calgary Hitmen in the second round (43rd overall) of the 2018 WHL Draft, Funk skated in 228 career WHL regular season games, securing 227 points (119G-108A).
Here's your daily Zac Funk goal tweet.
Yes, he really does have 64 on the season!@PGCougars | @Capitals pic.twitter.com/6iAWTG9yCA
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) March 14, 2024
Ryan Hofer
Hailing from Winnipeg, Man., Ryan Hofer enjoyed a solid WHL career, capping it with 68 points, including 40 goals, in 2022-23.
That season saw the 6-foot-3, 192-pound power forward split time between the Everett Silvertips and Kamloops Blazers, helping Kamloops put on an admirable showing at the 2023 Memorial Cup.
Hofer is one of those feelgood stories – undrafted into the WHL, established himself, found success, and parlayed that into being selected in the NHL Draft. After a 25-goal, 58-point season with the Everett Silvertips in 2021-22, the Washington Capitals liked enough of what they saw to select Hofer in the sixth round (181st overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft.
Since graduating from the WHL, Hofer has split time between the AHL and ECHL. In 45 AHL appearances, he has posted eight points (4G-4A), while collecting 26 points (12G-14A) in 52 ECHL games.
Ryan Hofer: Certified sniper.@blazerhockey | @Capitals | #MemorialCup pic.twitter.com/4XgmS7Guyc
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) June 1, 2023
Vincent Iorio
Vincent Iorio’s pro career is already off to a pretty good start, with two AHL Calder Cup titles to his name.
Graduating from the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings following the 2021-22 season, Iorio quickly rose up the ranks in the Capitals organization, making his NHL debut in 2022-23. That season, he dressed in 63 games with the AHL’s Hershey Bears, tallying 22 points (2G-20A) before seeing action in another 15 post-season games to help Hershey claim the AHL crown.
It was more of the same in 2023-24, as Iorio was recalled for six NHL games with the Caps in addition to skating in 60 regular season games with Hershey, plus another eight in the post-season as the Bears scratched out a second consecutive AHL Championship.
Originally selected by the Capitals in the second round (55th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft, Iorio has played in 190 AHL games over three seasons, recording 56 points (11G-45A) along the way.
During his time in the WHL, Iorio represented a steady presence on the blueline for the Wheat Kings, playing in 191 career WHL regular season games and notching 82 points (21G-61A).
Iorio was originally selected by the Wheat Kings in the second round (27th overall) of the 2017 WHL Draft.
🎥 WHL Highlight of the Night 🎥
March 30, 2021@bdnwheatkings defenceman Vincent Iorio goes end-to-end.#WHLHoN pic.twitter.com/bIJk4PzR2X— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) March 31, 2021
Lynden Lakovic
One of the newest members of the Washington Capitals, Lynden Lakovic was selected in the first round (27th overall) of the 2025 NHL Draft and promptly put pen to paper on an entry-level contract July 4.
Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing in at 201 pounds, the 18-year-old Lakovic brings an enviable combination of size and skill, evidenced by the 58 points (27G-31A) he recorded in 47 games during an injury-shortened 2024-25 season.
A member of the Moose Jaw Warriors 2024 WHL Championship squad, the product of West Kelowna, B.C., established himself as a clutch player during the 2024 WHL Playoffs, scoring a number of key goals along the way.
Originally selected by the Warriors in the second round (27th overall) of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, Lakovic has secured 104 points (47G-57A) in 153 regular season games and will look to build upon those totals, should he return to Moose Jaw for 2025-26.
A 6-foot-4 forward who can tickle twine like no other?
Yes, 18-year-old Lynden Lakovic is the whole package!@MJWARRIORS | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/xCOMm818lM
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) June 27, 2025
Terik Parascak
In back-to-back NHL Drafts, the Washington Capitals selected skilled WHL forwards with first-round picks – it was the aforementioned Lakovic in 2025, preceded by Prince George Cougars right winger Terik Parascak in 2024.
From Lethbridge, Alta., Parascak heard his named called 17th overall, following a 17-year-old rookie season in the WHL that featured an eye-popping 105 points (43G-62A) in 68 games and a place on the WHL’s B.C. Division Second All-Star Team.
The 6-foot, 187-pound forward had a solid campaign following his NHL Draft year, tallying another 82 points (28G-54A) in 59 games in 2024-25.
With the likes of Riley Heidt and Koehn Ziemmer off to the pro ranks, Parascak has the opportunity to take on a leading role this season in Prince George.
The Scoring Machine himself.
Re-live all of Terik Parascak's goals from the 2024-25 Regular Season and Playoffs!#ALLCAPS • #WHL pic.twitter.com/dVqpPwEJ14
— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) July 8, 2025
Henrik Rybinski
Henrik Rybinski, 24, is another two-time Calder Cup Champion to land on this list of notable Washington Capitals prospects.
The 6-foot-2, 185-pound product of Vancouver, B.C., was a member of Hershey’s AHL champions in 2023 and 2024. During the 2024 post-season run, Rybinski chipped in with nine points (5G-4A) in 19 games.
Selected by the Florida Panthers in the fifth round (136th overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft, Rybinski never signed with the Panthers. Instead, he played out a full five seasons in the WHL before earning himself an AHL contract with the Hershey Bears, beginning with the 2022-23 season.
It was an impressive 2021-22 season that put Rybinski back on the NHL radar. In 47 games as an alternate captain with the Seattle Thunderbirds, he registered 65 points (21G-44A). He also played a key role, tallying 18 points (4G-14A) in 19 games, as the Thunderbirds advanced to the WHL Championship, only to fall at the hands of the Edmonton Oil Kings.
Following his rookie pro season with the Hershey Bears, the Capitals signed Rybinski to a three-year, entry-level contract, beginning with the 2023-24 campaign.
Rybinski has continued to improve, posting a career best 35 points (10G-25A) in 60 games with the AHL’s Bears this past season.
Originally selected by the Medicine Hat Tigers in the second round (34th overall) of the 2016 WHL Draft, Rybinski’s WHL career included 233 regular season games and 176 points (50G-126A) spread across the Tigers and Thunderbirds.
Rybinski. Henrik Rybinski. pic.twitter.com/bUyJ71hlAt
— Seattle Thunderbirds (@SeattleTbirds) June 29, 2022
Justin Sourdif
Former WHL Champion Justin Sourdif is getting a new lease on pro hockey life as a member of the Washington Capitals.
The 23-year-old product of Surrey, B.C., was dealt from the Florida Panthers to the Caps this offseason, after which Washington promptly signed him to a two-year, one-way contract worth $1.65 million.
Since graduating from the WHL, Sourdif has skated in four NHL games, finding the back of the net for his first goal in 2024-25. Beyond that, he has spent the bulk of his time in the AHL, playing in 149 games and ratcheting up 96 points (35G-61A).
During his time in the WHL, Sourdif was an offensive force. Selected by the Vancouver Giants in the first round (third overall) of the 2017 WHL Draft, the 5-foot-11, 172-pound winger spent most of four seasons with the Giants, including 2021-22 as captain, before being dealt to the Edmonton Oil Kings at the 2022 WHL Trade Deadline.
From there, Sourdif bolstered an Oil Kings roster that went on win the 2022 WHL Championship.
In 199 career WHL regular season games, Sourdif registered 205 points (86G-119A).
Justin Sourdif – how do ya do?! 🤯@EdmOilKings | @FlaPanthers pic.twitter.com/BuqxT2OjLV
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) April 9, 2022
Alexander Suzdalev
He only played 96 career WHL regular season games, but boy, did Alexander Suzdalev dazzle during those two seasons.
Selected by the Regina Pats in the second round (95th overall) of the 2021 CHL Import Draft, the 6-foot-2, 185-pound forward opted not to come to North America until the 2022-23 season. That year, he just so happened to spend some time with NHL Draft-eligible Connor Bedard and that helped him secure 86 points (38G-48A) in 66 games.
Returning to his native Sweden to start the 2023-24 season, Suzdalev didn’t play much hockey for Mora IK of HockeyAllsvenskan. Eventually, he was convinced to return to the WHL and his rights were dealt from the Pats to the Saskatoon Blades.
In 30 goals with the Blades, Suzdalev once again had an impact, scoring nine goals and 25 points. He added another 13 points (4G-9A) in 16 playoff games as the Blades advanced to the Eastern Conference Championship, falling to the eventual WHL Champion Moose Jaw Warriors.
Suzdalev’s first season of North American pro hockey (2024-25) featured 50 games and 39 points (15G-24A) with the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays.
The product of Khabarovsky, Russia, was originally selected by the Capitals in the third round (70th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft.
Alexander Suzdalev with the *mic drop* Michigan goal 🔥🔥🔥@Capitals pic.twitter.com/kBcbdAFDco
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) March 16, 2024
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