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 four NHL players for the Washington Capitals: the 2006 NHL Draft.
The Washington Capitals, continuing their rebuilding strategy of stocking up draft picks, had ten picks in the 2006 draft. In the first round, the Washington Capitals selected Nicklas Backstrom with the fourth overall pick and Semyon Varlamov with the 23rd overall pick. In the second round, the Washington Capitals had three draft picks. They selected Michal Neuvirth, Francois Bouchard and Keith Seabrook. In the fourth round, they selected Oskar Osala and Luke Lynes. In the fifth round, they selected Maxime LaCroix. In the sixth round, they selected Brent Gwidt and Mathieu Perreault.
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 2006 Draft: The First Rounders
In the first round of the 2006 NHL Draft, the Washington Capitals had two first round picks. They drafted center Nicklas Backstrom with their first (fourth overall pick) and goaltender Semyon Varlamov with their second (23rd overall). They got that second first rounder by trading Brendan Witt to the Nashville Predators.
The Washington Capitals absolutely nailed their first pick. Backstrom has been a franchise cornerstone for the Capitals. He’s arguably their second best player and has been since pretty much the first time he laced up his skates in the NHL. He leads all 2006 draftees in assists (427) and points (572). He is third in games played (577) and despite having Adam Oates as his coach for a full season, still has the fourth highest plus/minus (+79). He’s arguably the second best player to come out of the 2006 NHL Draft. The only better player? Jonathan Toews, and he was the third overall pick. The Colorado Avalanche drafted Erik Johnson and the Penguins selected Jordan Staal before Backstrom was drafted. I bet both teams wish they had drafted Backstrom. The Washington Capitals definitely made the right pick with Backstrom.
The Washington Capitals drafted a franchise goaltender with their second first round pick. Note that I didn’t say for which team. Varlamov is currently the franchise goaltender for the Colorado Avalanche. Varlamov played well for the Washington Capitals. However, after he demanded a big contract despite not being able to prove that he could stay healthy enough to be a starting goaltender, he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche for a future first rounder and second rounder (which the Caps would use to get Mike Ribeiro).
In hindsight, the Washington Capitals could have drafted Nick Foligno or Patrice Berglund. Overall though, I can’t fault them for drafting Varlamov. He did live up to his upside. He just couldn’t stay health for the Washington Capitals. Such is life.
FIRST ROUND GRADE: A. Even in his trade, Varlamov brought value to the Caps. Granted, the Caps threw said value in a trash can, but still, a great first round by the Caps.
Next: The Second Rounders
Washington Capitals 2006 NHL Draft: Second Rounders
The Washington Capitals had three second round picks. That’s a great way to rebuild a team. However, the Caps mostly struck out.
The Washington Capitals selected two goaltenders with their first three picks. They had no goaltending depth at the time. Their strategy was most likely to see which one developed into a full-time starter first and then trade the loser. They wound up trading the guy who developed first into a full-time starter (Varlamov). Neuvirth was given his chances with the Caps. At worst, he was always a very solid backup goaltender who never fully earned the faith of the Washington Capitals. The Caps could have drafted Nikolai Kulemin instead of Neuvirth. Kulemin would have given them better value than Neuvirth.
The second second round pick of the Caps was Francois Bouchard, who never played in the NHL. Obviously, that’s not good. The Caps could have easily drafted defenseman Jeff Petry or polarizing forward Milan Lucic instead of Bouchard. At least he got the Caps some value, as he was traded for Tomas Kundratek. Kundratek had a ton of potential, but injuries have rendered him a depth defenseman.
The third Caps second round pick in 2006 was Keith Seabrook. He never played a game in the NHL and was later traded to the Flames for the coveted “future considerations”. The Washington Capitals could have drafted defenseman Mike Weber or forward Artem Anisimov. Either one of those two picks would have given them value.
GRADE: D. Two busts and a backup goaltender? Not good.
The first fourth round pick for the Washington Capitals was forward Oskar Osala. He played three games in the NHL, two of them with the Capitals. He was eventually traded to the Carolina Hurricanes for Joe Corvo. The Washington Capitals would have gotten better value by drafting James Reimer (drafted two picks later) or Matt Beleskey (15 picks later).
The second fourth round pick for the Washington Capitals in the 2006 NHL draft was Luke Lynes, a forward. He never played a single game in the NHL and didn’t even report to the organization. However, that’s alright because Chad Johnson is the only player drafted within 30 picks to even be a competent NHL player.
GRADE: C+
Next: The Fifth And Sixth Rounders
Washington Capitals 2006 Draft: The Fifth And Sixth Rounders
The Washington Capitals had one fifth round pick. With that pick (127th overall), they drafted forward Maxime LaCroix. Like most of the players drafted in the fifth round that year, he never played in the NHL. He’s currently playing in the British Elite Ice Hockey League.
Live Feed class=inline-text id=inline-text-4Buffalo Sabres were correct to take Rasmus Dahlin in 2018 /
The Caps finished off the 2006 NHL draft with two sixth round picks. The first (157th overall pick) was center Brent Gwidt. He never played in the NHL. Three picks after him, Andrew MacDonald was selected. Four picks after Gwidt, Viktor Stalberg was drafted. Either one of those two players would have provided much more value than Gwidt.
With their second sixth round pick in 2006, the Washington Capitals selected forward Mathieu Perreault. He wound up being a gem for the Capitals before they traded him to the Ducks. He did very well with the Ducks and is now breaking our hearts by doing very well in Winnipeg. Oh how we miss you Mathieu Perreault.
GRADE: B+. Perreault was a fantastic pick even if they did wind up trading him for nothing.
The Washington Capitals had a successful draft in 2006. They got two potential future goaltenders (even managing to trade one for a good second line center AND a future first round pick) and a borderline elite center. However, it could have been better had they gotten more value out of their second round picks. That said, successful draft.
