Washington Capitals: 2019 expectations for Alex Alexeyev
Washington Capitals prospect defensemen Alex Alexeyev will be someone to keep an eye on next season.
Alex Alexeyev is gearing up for the season along with other fellow Washington Capitals prospects as well as members of the Caps themselves at the team’s practice facility in Arlington.
Although it’s a long shot, the 2018 first round draft pick has the high goal of making the team but even if he doesn’t is open to honing his craft at the AHL level in Hershey.
Alexeyev is coming off three seasons in the Western Hockey League (WHL) for the Red Deer Rebels, where he put up solid numbers. His first season was in 2016-17 where he scored 21 points (4 goals 17 assists) and 24 penalty minutes in 41 games and 37 points (7 goals, 30 assists) and 29 penalty minutes his second season.
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Alex Alexeyev was selected by the Washington Capitals in the NHL Draft that summer of 2018 in Dallas with the 31st overall pick in round one. Alexeyev remained in the WHL for one more season with Red Deer where he recorded 43 points (10 goals, 33 assists) and 34 penalty minutes in 49 games.
Additionally, he’s represented Team Russia for both their U20 team and in the World Junior Championship. Alexeyev had four goals and two assists in seven games in World Juniors leading Russia to a Bronze medal.
Overall, Alexeyev was having a killer first season after getting drafted by the Capitals but then in March he was hit with a severe knee injury that ended his season.
It’s been five months since and Alexeyev has been on the ice working out and gearing up for a new season. He took part in Development Camp and now in the dog days of the summer is a regular at the team’s summer informal skates at MedStar Capitals Iceplex.
He strives to make the team but even if he doesn’t, the Hershey Bears could certainly use him. Still though, he impressed the coaches at development camp and if he continues to do so in the preseason a call-up could happen at some point midseason.
Final activity of the day: hockey time! pic.twitter.com/q04uqbRZTy
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) August 25, 2019
Last weekend Alexeyev took part in an NHLPA showcase with other NHL rookies including top draft pick Jack Hughes. It’s a welcome sign for Capitals fans knowing their blueliners up and down the system are getting healthier. Not only is Alexeyev back on the ice but Michal Kempny is as well.
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Alexeyev is a unique talent that can glide down the ice and snap a quick shot. It’s going to be fun following him in Hershey and possibly Washington in the foreseeable future.