Washington Capitals: Top 5 prospects to get excited for

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QUEBEC CITY, QC – SEPTEMBER 20: Montreal Canadiens defenceman Xavier Ouellet (61) and Washington Capitals left wing Axel Jonsson-Fjallby (45) fight for the puck during the Washington Capitals versus the Montreal Canadiens preseason game on September 20, 2018, at Centre Videotron in Quebec City, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

There are several Washington Capitals prospects poised for a highly anticipated 2019-20 season.

We recently looked at the top five heading into 2019. Earlier in the offseason we also ranked the Washington Capitals forwards, defense and goalie prospects. Here is the last of our prospect slideshow series of the offseason.

What differentiates these top fives from the others is their youth, their potential and their future. These guys are players you might not see with the Capitals this season but ones you might see in the next few years.

QUEBEC CITY, QC – SEPTEMBER 20: Look on Washington Capitals left wing Axel Jonsson-Fjallby (45) during the Washington Capitals versus the Montreal Canadiens preseason game on September 20, 2018, at Centre Videotron in Quebec City, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

5. Axel Jonsson-Fjällby

Hershey Bears are excited to see what Axel Jonsson-Fjällby will bring to the to the offense this season. While he struggled last season, he’ll look for a bounce back year and there’s no doubt he has the potential to be a breakout candidate. We’ll finally get a full AHL season’s worth look at him.

The 2016 fifth rounder has a flow that’s even more flashier than Carl Hagelin and T.J. Oshie. He boasts speed and can boost the Bears top line and power play unit. He scored just one goal a season ago and is poised to bounce back in 2019.

In the past, he’s shown flashes of greatness including the 2017 World Junior Championships representing Team Sweden. He recorded four points (two goals, two assists) in seven games.

#4 Lucas Johansen

Lucas Johansen was the Capitals first round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft at 28th overall. Brother of Ryan Johansen of the Nashville Predators, Lucas is determined to make it to the NHL but it’s been a challenging road for him thus far. Prior to his selection, the defensemen was a member of the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets.

Johansen recorded 49 points (10 goals, 39 assists) in 2015-16 and remained with the team after the Caps drafted him. The next season, Johansen posted 41 points (6 goals, 35 assists). He finally got the chance to move up to the AHL level in 2017-18 and has since been a member of the Hershey Bears.

HERSHEY, PA – MARCH 16: Hershey Bears defenseman Lucas Johansen (6) hits Bridgeport Sound Tigers right wing Tanner Fritz (11) in the slot during the Bridgeport Sound Tigers vs. the Hershey Bears AHL hockey game March 16, 2019 at the Giant Center in Hershey, PA. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Johansen’s first season in Hershey saw him record 27 points (6 goals, 21 assists) in 71 games. Last season, however, Johansen had a drop-off with 14 points (3 goals, 11 assists) in 45 games thanks in large part to missing significant time due to an upper-body injury.

Johansen was undersized and many considered him “skinny” but he continues to put on weight and now weighs 183 pounds thanks to a protein strict diet.

This is the most important season for Johansen coming up as he’ll look to earn a chance for NHL action. He’ll competing against the likes of Alex Alexeyev and Martin Fehervary and will be determined to beat both out for that chance. It’ll be a challenge since the Capitals are known for their defensemen prospect depth.

DALLAS, TX – JUNE 22: Alexander Alexeyev poses for a portrait after being selected thirty-first overall by the Washington Capitals during the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 22, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images) /

#3 Alex Alexeyev

Alex Alexeyev is so excited for the season he already is showing confidence in believing he could make an NHL roster. He showed that spark at the NHLPA Rookie Showcase at MedStar Capitals Iceplex on Sunday August 25. What more could you want than a winning attitude from your 2018 first round pick?

After his WHL season was cut short from a brutal knee-on-knee hit where he landed in the boards and was carried on a stretcher, it’s good to see Alexeyev working out on the ice and gearing up for the season. He’s healthy and he’ll be ready to go whether it be in Washington or Hershey, but likely expect the latter.

VANCOUVER, BC – DECEMBER 30: Alexander Alexeyev #4 of Russia celebrates after scoring a goal against Switzerland in Group A hockey action of the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship action on December, 30, 2018 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) /

As part of the showcase event at the Capitals practice facility in Arlington, Alexeyev posed for photos, held court with the media and took part in a prospect scrimmage finishing with two goals including the game’s first goal.

All the future stars of the NHL came together in Washington D.C. last weekend. Go behind the scenes with our Alex @Alexeyev04 at the 2019 @NHLPA Rookie Showcase #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/1LVvXqRMJi
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) August 30, 2019

Alexeyev told the media (via J.J. Regan of NBC Sports Washington) that his knee felt, “Amazing. One-hundred percent.”

Alexeyev is hopefully to crack the NHL roster but he’ll likely begin the season in Hershey on a Bears team looking to see more from Lucas Johansen and a stacked blueline corps featuring Tyler Lewington and Connor Hobbs.

SUNRISE, FL – JUNE 26: Ilya Samsonov poses for a portrait after being selected 22nd overall by the Washington Capitals during Round One of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center on June 26, 2015 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images) /

#2 Ilya Samsonov

A lot of Caps and Bears fans are excited to see Ilya Samsonov have a solid second season in Hershey and perhaps get recalled to make his NHL debut this upcoming season. There’s no telling what the future of the goaltending is in Washington but Samsonov will be with the Caps or elsewhere as a regular NHL netminder much sooner rather than later.

The 2015 first round pick knows he has to improve from his 20-14-2 record with a 2.70 goals-against average and a .898 save percentage. The difference on the rinks in Russia compared to North America is the size. North American rinks are much smaller and the game moves faster. There’s more action in front of you and less reaction time to make a save.

HERSHEY, PA – NOVEMBER 28: Hershey Bears goalie Ilya Samsonov (1) faces a shooter in the corner during the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at Hershey Bears on November 28, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey, PA. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Samsonov is in Arlington taking part in the informal skates with other Capitals players and prospects. He hopes to be in this area more frequently in the foreseeable future. Eyes will be on him in Washington, Hershey and Russia and there will be some buzz once he finally gets the call-up to make his first NHL start.

How many starts Samsonov gets in the NHL this upcoming season remains to be seen but he’ll look to lead the Hershey Bears back to the Calder Cup playoffs and beyond.

#1 Connor McMichael

Connor McMichael was the first forward the Capitals selected in the first round of the NHL Draft since Jakub Vrana in 2014. The 2019 first rounder plays for Capitals legend Dale Hunter of the London Knights and it’ll be exciting watching McMichael try to lead that storied OHL franchise back to glory.

McMichael was selected at 25th and many experts had him going much higher than that on their draft board. The Knights finished last season with the top record in the Western Conference with a 45-16-6 mark. McMichael led the Knights with 36 goals and assists. McMichael and the Knights fell in the second round and are determined to go even further.

Elite Prospects describes McMichael as:

A smart center with impressive hockey sense. Reads the game very well and plays well in his own end too. Puck handling is good and he has a decent nose for the net. Some consistency issues.

You likely won’t see McMichael with the Capitals this regular season but we’re excited to see what he can bring to the annual pre-preseason rookie tournament in Nashville.

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If McMichael continues to trend upward in the OHL this season expect to see him get a chance to play for the Hershey Bears one year from now.

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