Washington Capitals: Top 5 Defensemen Prospects

After we took a look at the top five forwards in the Washington Capitals system, Stars and Sticks continues the slideshow series with the defensemen.

The Washington Capitals have been smart in drafting defenseman over the course of their history. Guys like John Carlson and Christian Djoos established themselves coming up through the ranks.

But even so, the Capitals have selected numerous defensemen over the last few drafts and there’s still some high profile names in the minors. Some of these guys you’ve seen or heard as a member of the Hershey Bears.

One of these players even had a “Gordie Howe Hat Trick” in a game last season. Others you may recognize in recent drafts that are still vying for a chance at the NHL in the future.

The complicated part about ranking these prospects was injury or inconsistencies. Back in 2016 the Capitals drafted Lucas Johansen with the 28th overall pick but his play dropped last season. He didn’t make the cut for this slideshow.

But the faces you’ll see on these next five slides are some of the top prospects in the Capitals system currently and some you may have seen in NHL action at one point or another.

Either way, here are the top five defensive prospects in the Capitals organization in no particular order.

Tyler Lewington

Tyler Lewington was selected in the seventh round at 2014th overall back in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Coming from the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League (WHL), Lewington spent the next two seasons there before making the jump to the Capitals’ minor league system.

On March 4, 2015, Lewington was inked to a three-year entry-level deal and in the following season split time with both the Hershey Bears (Washington’s AHL affiliate) and the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL (East Coast Hockey League).

Lewington recorded six points in both Hershey (3 goals, 3 assists) and South Carolina (1 goal, 5 assists). 2015-16 was Lewington’s best season in Hershey where he appeared in 72 games for the Chocolate and White and registered 17 points (4 goals, 13 assists) to lead the Bears to the Calder Cup playoffs.

In 2017-18, Lewington had 11 points (2 goals, 9 assists) in 71 games. 2018-19 saw Lewington get an NHL opportunity when the Capitals needed a defenseman in the midst of injuries to both Brooks Orpik and Christian Djoos.

Lewington made his NHL debut on Dec. 22 in Ottawa and appeared in the lineup again one week later, ironically, in Ottawa.

In that second game, Lewington not only scored his first goal but had the rarity of a Gordie Howe Hat Trick as he also recorded an assist and got in a fight. It was the first Gordie Howe in Capitals history recorded by a defenseman since Kevin Hatcher against the Philadelphia Flyers on Feb. 10, 1991.

Lewington finished the remainder of the season in Hershey helping to lead the Bears back to the playoffs. He scored 15 points (3 goals, 12 assists) in 65 games.

Connor Hobbs

Connor Hobbs was drafted in the fifth round at 143rd overall by the Capitals in 2015. A native of Canada, Hobbs spent the first two seasons for his hometown WHL team Regina Pats.

Hobbs was an offensive weapon on the blueline in Regina. In 2015-16, Hobbs recorded 41 points (19 goals, 22 assists). That summer, the Capitals signed Hobbs to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Coming off that payday, Hobbs had a monster season in his final season of WHL action as he scored a career-high 31 goals and 53 assists for 85 points. During the 2017 Capitals training camp auditions for the defensive void looking to be filled, Hobbs tried his best but didn’t make the team.

He did join the Hershey Bears and played in 44 games. The early part of his rookie season was hampered by a wrist injury that sidelined him for seven weeks. Hobbs finished his rookie AHL season with 16 points (3 goals, 13 assists) and had 61 penalty minutes.

His numbers improved last season which saw his playing time go up. in 59 games, Hobbs once again had three goals but improved his assist total to 15 for 18 points. His penalty minutes went up to 82 and his +/- went from a -11 the previous year to a -7 and helped get the Bears back into the playoffs

Aaron Ness

Aaron Ness was originally taken by the New York Islanders in the second round at 40th overall in the 2008 Draft. In 2011, the Islanders signed Ness to a three-year entry level deal. After finishing out his NCAA career with the University of Minnesota, Ness played in nine Islanders games in the 2011-12 season. The next season, Ness served as team captain for their AHL affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers. He also played 20 games with the Islanders in the 2013-14 season.

On July 1, 2015, Ness walked via free agency and signed a one-year, two-way deal in Washington. With John Carlson and Brooks Orpik on injured reserve, each with lower-body injuries, he was recalled to the Capitals in early January and made his Washington debut on Jan. 2, 2016 (source Washington Post, subscription required).

Ness played in eight games and had two assists and averaged 12:23 with the Capitals. Back in Hershey, Ness played in 62 regular season games and recorded 27 points (6 goals, 21 assists). In the playoff run to the Calder Cup, Ness had 12 assists.

The next year, Ness played in 57 AHL games and recorded 17 points (5 goals, 12 assists) and had 24 penalty minutes. He also played in two Capitals games.

When the Capitals lost veteran defensemen Karl Alzner, Kevin Shattenkirk, and Nate Schmidt to free agency and a Vegas expansion draft, roster spots were open at training camp and Ness made the lineup for Opening Night.

Ness struggled in the NHL and after eight games and just one assist from the home opener vs. Montreal served as a healthy scratch before being placed on waivers at the end of November. He cleared and has since played in Hershey.

Ness’ numbers improved since the switch to the AHL with 29 points in 55 games (4 goals, 25 assists) in 2017-18 and an even bigger improvement last season with 55 points (5 goals, 50 assists) in 71 games including an AHL-career best +/- of +24.

In case someone gets hurt this upcoming season, there’s no doubt that he’ll be ready should another recall from Hershey be in place.

Bobby Nardella

Bobby Nardella is one of the newest Capitals prospects in the system and a face you’ll see if you choose to attend this week’s Development Camp. This move came just days after defensive prospect Chase Priskie informed the Capitals that he would not return and test the free agent market.

The Capitals signed the undrafted free agent to a two-year, entry level deal on April 5. He is the son of Bob Nardilla, a former AHL player who played in 100 games for the Chicago Wolves and represented Team Italy in 1998 and 2006 at the Winter Olympic Games.

Nardella comes from the University of Notre Dame and just finished his senior year. The 23-year old’s best season came in his fourth year when he scored 34 points (8 goals, 26 assists) in 38 games for the Fighting Irish including a collegiate-career best +/- of +5.

Like the other new prospect Joe Snively, Nardella was also nominated for college hockey’s prestigious Hobey Baker Award. This award is bestowed upon the top player in college hockey. Additionally, Nardella was named to the Big 10 First All-Star team (source: Development Camp Guide).

In 147 total career games with Notre Dame, he finished with 103 points (24 goals, 79 assists) in 147 career games. He made his AHL debut playing in two Hershey Bears games at the tail end of the regular season.