Washington Capitals: Grading The 2008 NHL Draft
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Over the next several weeks, we will be taking a look back at past Washington Capitals drafts and grading them. We will use hindsight within reason. For example, just because player A was drafted in the seventh round and is an NHL All-Star, that doesn’t mean we’ll say that the Washington Capitals should have drafted player A over player B in the first round. Today, we look at a draft that produced two franchise cornerstones for the Washington Capitals: the 2008 NHL Draft.
The Washington Capitals had eight draft picks in the 2008 draft. In the first round, the Washington Capitals selected two players: forward Anton Gustafsson and defenseman John Carlson. In the second round, the Caps selected defenseman Eric Mestery and right wing Dmitry Kugryshev. In the fourth round, they selected goaltender Braden Holtby. In the fifth round, they selected right wing Joel Broda. In the sixth round, they selected left wing Greg Burke. In the seventh round, they selected left wing Stefan Della Rovere.
Each of those picks will be graded on several factors. First of all, what have they done in their career? Secondly, could the Washington Capitals have reasonably chosen a better player? We’ll look at the next five picks for each first, next ten for each second round pick and the next 15 for each of the subsequent rounds. Thirdly, what value did they bring the Washington Capitals, if any? Fourthly, what were the realistic expectations of the pick? It’s not worth getting upset over a seventh round pick, but it would be worth getting upset over a first round pick.
Next: The First Rounders
Washington Capitals 2008 NHL Draft: First Rounders
The Washington Capitals had two first round picks in 2008. Their original one was the 21st pick. With that pick, they picked forward (and son of former Caps forward Bengt-Ake Gustafsson) Anton Gusafsson. The Caps got a second first round pick from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for defenseman Steve Eminger. That trade didn’t work out at all for the Flyers, as Eminger played just 12 games for them.
The Gustafsson pick hurts for several reasons. First of all, Gustafsson never played a game in the NHL. He was drafted mostly for his last name rather than his skill level. Had his name been Anton Smith, he probably wouldn’t have been drafted by the Caps, in my opinion. Secondly, the Washington Capitals are currently looking for a top line forward. Well, guess who was chosen immediately after Gustafsson? Jordan Eberle. Eberle’s a top line forward and would have been a terrific addition to the Caps. Tyler Ennis was selected five picks after Gustafsson. While Ennis isn’t the forward that Eberle is, he’s still at worst a solid third line forward. That’s better than Gustafsson.
HINDSIGHT PICK: Eberle
GRADE: F
Although the Gustafsson pick was awful for the Caps, the Carlson pick was brilliant. The Caps got a very good top pairing defenseman late in the first round. Carlson ranks ninth among all skaters and third among defenseman drafted in 2008 in points. The two above him? Alex Pietrangelo and Drew Doughty. Carlson also ranks sixth among all players drafted in 2008 in games played.
Did the Caps get an elite defenseman in Carlson? Who knows. That’s up for debate. What’s a fact that is that the Caps at worst have a defenseman who is capable of producing at an impressive level despite facing tough minutes and non-ideal situations. And they got him for Eminger. Brilliant trade and draft pick by George McPhee.
GRADE: A. This almost makes up for Gustafsson. Almost.
Next: The Second Rounders
Washington Capitals 2008 NHL Draft: Second Rounders
Just like in the first round, the Washington Capitals had two picks in the second round. Sadly, neither of their two draft picks that year panned out. They drafted defenseman Eric Mestery with the 57th overall pick and right wing Dmitry Kugryshev with the 58th overall pick.
Mestery never played a game in the NHL. Neither did Kugryshev. That’s disappointing to say the least, but the only two productive NHL player chosen with 10 picks of either of the two were Jimmy Hayes (60th overall pick) and Jori Lehtera (65th overall pick). However, it is worth mentioning that the 2014-2015 season was Jori Lehtera’s first in the NHL.
Hayes certainly isn’t a star. In 168 games, Hayes has just 66 points (30 goals and 36 assists). His career high in points? 35 this season. This season was also his first season in which he averaged over 15 minutes of ice time per game. That said, he is just 25 years old and I’m sure Trotz would like his 6’6″ frame. Certainly better than Mestery or Kugryshev.
Lehtera is pushing it, but at least he has a productive NHL season. He proved to be worth the wait with 44 points in 75 games for the Blues in a third line role for them. Considering the Caps lack of depth at center with Eric Fehr and Jay Beagle as free agents, it would be nice to have Lehtera.
The Mestery and Kugryshev picks don’t hurt too much because it’s not like Hayes or Lehtera are stars. That said, it still stings because at least both of them are regular NHL players.
HINDSIGHT: Should have drafted Hayes and Lehtera.
GRADE: C+
Next: The Fourth Round
Washington Capitals 2008 NHL Draft: Fourth Round
The Washington Capitals got their greatest value in the fourth round. With the 93rd overall pick, the Caps selected goaltender Braden Holtby. 178 games and 101 wins later, Holtby has made the Caps look brilliant for drafting him in the fourth round. In 178 games with the Caps, Holtby has a 2.44 GAA and a 92.1% save percentage. He also has seven assists in those 178 games.
It’s funny that the Caps found success with Holtby. The Caps spent a first round pick on Semyon Varlamov. He couldn’t stay healthy long enough for the Washington Capitals to figure out if they wanted to keep him long-term. His demand for a big contract ensured his swift exit from DC. The Caps also spent a second round pick on Michal Neuvirth. While he definitely showed a lot of potential at times, at some point, that potential became wasted talent. When Holtby was drafted in the fourth round, he was mostly an afterthought. However, he spent just 132 games (parts of four seasons) with the Hershey Bears.
Holtby is proof that it is usually wisest to wait on goaltenders in the draft. He’s just one example of an extremely good goaltender who wasn’t found in the first round. Are there goaltenders who have had success while being drafted in the first round? Sure. Marc-Andre Fleury is proof of that. But goaltenders are extremely difficult to project. Hence why it’s usually smarter to draft them later.
GRADE: A+
Next: The Fifth Round
Washington Capitals 2008 NHL Draft: Fifth Round
In the fifth round of the 2008 NHL Draft, the Washington Capitals drafted center Joel Broda with the 144th pick. Broda never played in the Caps system until this season, when he played in 53 games for them and scored 10 points. At worst, he’s been a decent depth forward wherever he has gone, which isn’t bad from a fifth rounder.
However, several NHL players were chosen in the fifteen picks that followed. With the 148th pick, forward and general piece of crap Matt Martin was chosen. Martin isn’t a productive NHLer because he’s a glorified goon (69 points in 300+ games with 561 penalty minutes), so that’s nothing to worry about. Philip Larsen (chosen with the 149th pick by the Dallas Stars) has had a cup of coffee in the NHL. In 125 games, he has 31 points. Mark Barberio, chosen with the 152nd overall pick by the Lightning, has had a cup of coffee as well. In 103 games, he has 17 points.
With the 156th pick, the Islanders picked Jared Spurgeon. He’s an alright defenseman. In 295 games, he has 101 points. Not top four caliber, but certainly a good third pairing defenseman. With the 157th pick, Columbus picked forward Cam Atkinson. Atkinson has quietly had a fairly successful NHL career with 112 points in 219 games.
HINDSIGHT: Probably should have chosen Atkinson.
GRADE: C+. Broda’s at least been a decent depth forward. Atkinson sort of stings, but that’s the way it goes in the fifth round.
Next: Sixth and Seventh Round
Washington Capitals 2008 NHL Draft: Sixth and Seventh Round
In the sixth round with the 174th overall pick, the Washington Capitals selected Greg Burke. Like most players picked in the sixth round, he never played in the NHL. However, several players picked near him did. Forward Tommy Wingels, drafted by the Sharks with the 177th overall pick, has played in 232 NHL games and has 96 points. Forward Zac Rinaldo of the Flyers, drafted with the 178th overall pick, has played in 223 games. He has 24 points with 572 penalty minutes. The Sharks picked defenseman Jason Demers with the 186th overall pick. In 361 NHL games, Demers has 120 points.
HINDSIGHT: Demers would have been nice.
GRADE: C+. Can’t really be too mad because he was a sixth rounder.
In the seventh round with the 204th overall pick, the Washington Capitals chose Stefan Della Rovere. The Caps traded him to the Blues for D.J. King, who played 18 games for the Caps. He wound up playing in seven games for the Blues, scoring zero points and amassing 11 penalty minutes.
The only NHL player who was drafted after Rovere was goaltender Anders Lindback, who has been a backup goaltender at best.
GRADE: B-. At least he got the Washington Capitals an NHL player, albeit one who played in just 18 games.
Next: Overall Grade
Washington Capitals 2008 NHL Draft: Overall Grade
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Overall, I’d have to say that the Washington Capitals did fairly well for themselves in the 2008 NHL draft. Anytime that you can get two franchise building blocks in Carlson and Holtby, you have to consider that to be a fairly good draft at worst. However, looking at who the Caps missed out on, it could have been even better. That’s just the way that the NHL Draft goes sometimes. Sometimes you did really well, sometimes you miss out on prospects. Such is life.
OVERALL GRADE: B-. Holtby and Carlson really saved this draft for the Washington Capitals. No one else of consequence was drafted by the Caps in the 2008 draft.
NEXT: We’ll take a look at the 2007 NHL Draft, which saw the Caps make another solid first round pick.
Next: Grading The 2009 NHL Draft