Washington Capitals: Top 5 prospects to get excited for

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.

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.

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.

#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.

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.

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.

#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.

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.