Washington Capitals: Top 5 Forward Prospects
With the 2019 NHL Draft in the books, things are looking up currently in the future for the Washington Capitals. It’s never too early to look ahead.
We all know and witness the talent firsthand in Washington but many of these players you know and love on the team today were once a Hershey Bear not too long ago. Or a South Carolina Stingray or playing through another professional hockey rank. They had to come up through the ranks both overseas and the Washington Capitals system and prove they belonged in the NHL.
Who you’ll see on these next five slides is a glimpse into that future. They could make an impact on the big club in Washington as soon as next season or in a few seasons from now depending on how things shape out.
You may even recognize a face from the Stanley Cup roster from that magical 2018 run. Also, if you come out to the team’s annual development camp you may see a few of these faces if not all.
The Capitals added stock to their youth this recent draft and in a suggestion on what they should do this offseason, we noted it’d be wise that they take a forward. They not only added one but added two more. Here’s are five of the best forward prospects they currently have in their system.
Shane Gersich LW
First off, look at this amazing goal from his college days at the University of North Dakota.
Shane Gersich was drafted by the Capitals in the fifth round in 2014 (134th overall). His spin-o-rama goal from above came in his best season as collegiate athlete. Gersich recorded 37 points (21 goals, 16 assists) as only a sophomore.
Gersich finished the next season with 29 points (13 goals, 16 assists) and decided to forgo his senior season and sign an entry-level contract. He made his debut just a few days later on March 28, 2018 in a home game against the New York Rangers.
Gersich was one of the extras on the roster during the 2018 Stanley Cup run and played in Games 4 and 5 of the second round vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins at the beginning of Tom Wilson’s three-game suspension.
Other than that, just from watching and learning as a healthy scratch from the press box to being down on the ice with his new teammates, lifting the Cup likely inspired him. Just weeks after all the hoopla Gersich was back on the ice for development camp and joined the Hershey Bears the ensuing autumn.
Gersich recorded 24 points (8 goals, 16 assists) in 66 games and had three points in nine playoff games. Just weeks after, the Capitals signed him to a one-year, two-way contract on May 19 worth $700,000.
Mike Sgarbossa C
Mike Sgarbossa had a monster season in Hershey leading the Bears with 60 points and 35 assists and second in goals with 30. That sounds impressive on paper itself but there was a journey to Hershey.
Back in 2010 Sgarbossa went undrafted but did sign with the San Jose Sharks to a three-year contract. He has bounced around from the OHL, NHL and AHL.
As far as NHL experience goes, Sgarbossa has spent time in organizations of the Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, Florida Panthers and the Winnipeg Jets before the Washington Capitals signed him last summer to a one-year, two-way deal carrying an average annual value (AAV) of $650,000 in the NHL and $315,00 in the AHL.
The 2018-19 season was the best year offensively for Sgarbossa and he can drop the gloves as well. Via HockeyFights.com, Sgarbossa has been in 13 fights in the AHL and one in the NHL during the 2016-17 season.
In his first AHL season in 2012-13, Sgarbossa had five fights as a member of the Avalanche’s affiliate at the time Lake Erie Monsters which was the most in a season. He had just one fight last season in Providence.
Sgarbossa is trending upward and nothing would be more settling than another contract extension instead of bouncing around from team to team.
Garrett Pilon C
Garrett Pilon was drafted by the Capitals in the third round (87th overall) back in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. Long time hockey fans may recognize the last name from watching his father Rich Pilon play for the New York Rangers, Islanders, and St. Louis Blues during his 15 seasons in the NHL.
At the time, Pilon was coming off his first season with the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League (WHL) where he remained for the next season before being traded in the middle of the 2017-18 campaign to the the Everett Silvertips.
Last season Pilon made the jump from the WHL to the AHL where he finished with a respectable 33 points (10 goals, 23 assists) in 71 games for the Hershey Bears. In the Calder Cup playoffs, Pilon had five assists in nine games.
Pilon was sixth on the team in points and there’s nowhere to go but up from here. Think of Pilon like a young Nicklas Backstrom. Pilon has a a knack for making the quick pass, a great slap shot, and can drive to the net.
Pilon could be battling for a roster spot in the bottom-six this training camp but even if he doesn’t make the Capitals, the Bears will certainly need him for a return trip to the Calder Cup playoffs.
Axel Jonsson-Fjallby LW
Axel Jonsson-Fjallby has a flow longer than Carl Hagelin and could’ve given New York Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard a run for his money in the Thor contest if the righty didn’t cut it. The left winger’s puck handling and speed complement his game.
But this isn’t a hair appreciation slide whatsoever. Jonsson-Fjallby was selected in the fifth round in 2016 at 147th overall and could go down as a steal in itself.
Jonsson-Fjallby remained at his home in Sweden and put together a 37-point season (17 goals, 20 assits) in 32 games for the Djurgardens IF J20 SuperElit group before his eventual level-up to the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) club.
The hockey world knew Jonsson-Fjallby’s name all the more better during the 2017 World Juniors when he posted four-points in seven games (two goals, two assists).
Back in Sweden gaining more SHL experience, the 21-year old recorded 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in 42 games and Washington signed him to a three-year entry-level contract following the season and in the midst of their Stanley Cup run.
Jonsson-Fjallby began the 2018-19 campaign for the Hershey Bears and after scoring just a pair of goals and three points in 15 games at the AHL level, he was loaned right back to Djurgardens IF after one month. There were reports that he wanted to go back to Sweden for personal reasons.
Jonsson-Fjallby came back to Hershey for their Calder Cup run as an extra after a 10-point (a goal and nine assists) season in 36 SHL games. He doesn’t plan on leaving Hershey anytime soon per this story from NBC Sports Washington’s J.J. Regan.
Connor McMichael C
This slideshow for the top five forwards wouldn’t be complete without adding the newest high-profile prospect in town. Aside from the cool name that is shades of one of the top prospects in all of hockey just four years ago, Connor McMichael practically fell into the Capitals’ laps at the 25th pick.
The 18-year old center who’s 5′ 11” and 174 pounds, he came from the London Knights OHL program, an elite group that had NHL talent come through the walls including current Capitals defenseman John Carlson.
His road to London came via a trade when his former OHL team the Hamilton Bulldogs sent McMichael, along with four future priority selection to the London Knights in exchange Robert Thomas.
At the time of this trade that occurred on Jan. 8, 2018, McMichael was just 16 and the Knights were rebuilding while Hamilton needed that big piece to win an OHL championship, which they accomplished.
In a detailed article from NBC Sports Washington’s Brian McNally about this transaction and more, Thomas was NHL bound after being drafted by the St. Louis Blues, made the league out of training camp prior to the 2018-19 season, and the rest was history as they went on to win the Stanley Cup.
Next. The 2017-18 Washington Capitals were "Team of This Century" in D.C. Sports. dark
That’s how close McMichael is to making a name for himself in the NHL but in the meantime, he’ll be more-than-happy to spend the next two seasons with the London Knights looking to hone his craft under the watch of Capitals legend Dale Hunter.