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Washington Capitals: Top 5 Goaltender Prospects

By Michael Marzzacco

HERSHEY, PA - FEBRUARY 09: Hershey Bears goalie Ilya Samsonov (35) hugs and congratulates fellow goalie Vitek Vanecek (30) after stopping all five shooters during the shoot out after the Charlotte Checkers vs. Hershey Bears AHL game February 9, 2019 at the Giant Center in Hershey, PA. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
HERSHEY, PA - FEBRUARY 09: Hershey Bears goalie Ilya Samsonov (35) hugs and congratulates fellow goalie Vitek Vanecek (30) after stopping all five shooters during the shoot out after the Charlotte Checkers vs. Hershey Bears AHL game February 9, 2019 at the Giant Center in Hershey, PA. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 18: Capitals goalie Ilva Samsonov blocks a shot during a pre-season game between the Washington Capitals and the Boston Bruins on September 18, 2018, in Washington, MD. (Photo by John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 18: Capitals goalie Ilva Samsonov blocks a shot during a pre-season game between the Washington Capitals and the Boston Bruins on September 18, 2018, in Washington, MD. (Photo by John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images) /

The Stars and Sticks prospect slideshow series rounds out with a look at the top five goalies in the Washington Capitals system.

The Washington Capitals have done well when it comes to drafting goaltenders. This was shown right from the summer of 2008 when the team drafted Braden Holtby in the fourth round at 93rd overall. Nobody knew at the time what he was capable of but 10 years later, it came full circle.

That summer saw the Capitals lose both their trade deadline acquisition Cristobal Huet as well as goaltending legend Olaf Kolzig to unrestricted free agency.

Jose Theodore was signed by the Capitals in response. That following spring saw the emergence of 2006 first rounder (23rd overall) Semyon Varlamov, who replaced a struggling Theodore and helped backstop the Capitals to a rally to defeat the New York Rangers, overcoming a 3-1 deficit.

Varlamov also helped the Capitals come nearly close to beating a Pittsburgh Penguins team that, well, no need to say it. Also this type of save against Sidney Crosby was pretty good.

Michal Neuvrith, also taken in 2006 in the second round at (34th overall) didn’t pan out either. Then came Philipp Grubauer, who was taken in the fourth round (112th overall) in 2010.

Grubauer, a main backup to Holtby for four seasons, led the charge in the homestretch of the 2017-18 regular season and earned a home in Colorado, but this also made things tough for the future of goaltending in Washington with a tight salary cap.

The Holtbeast, as we all know, won back-to-back Vezina Trophies in 2016 and 17, and helped lead the Capitals to the ultimate prize after he regained his spot in the starting lineup in that spring for the ages.

With the Seattle expansion draft coming next summer, backup goaltender Pheonix Copley earning a three-year extension last season, and Holtby entering the last year of his contract, nobody knows what the future will hold.

Rest assured these players mentioned on the following slides might have a home in Washington in the next few seasons. Here are the top five prospect goaltenders.

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