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