Washington Capitals Draft: Top priority is addressing center

The Washington Capitals hold the 20th pick in this year’s NHL Draft. After the Nicklas Backstrom news where he underwent hip surgery and just began a lengthy rehab process with so much unknowns, it is time for the Caps to look to the future and find that center.

Luckily the Caps top prospect Hendrix Lapierre was a center at the time of getting drafted. But the Caps need to stock up on more. They’ll likely have Nic Dowd, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Connor McMichael back as the main centers. That fourth center could either be this pick or someone they’ll acquire in free agency.

One name that we went with in our mock draft is Frank Nazar. He had 15 goals and 20 assists for 35 points in 24 games with the USNTDP Juniors of the USHL. With the Team USA U18 squad in the WJC 18 he had three goals and six assists for nine points.

Another name the Caps could select at number 20 for the center position includes Luca Del Bel Belluz. In his third season with the Mississauga Steelheads of the OHL, he recorded 30 goals and 46 assists for 76 points in 68 games. He also had a plus minus of +23 and four points in the playoffs with a goal and three assists.

Another center that could be available is Owen Beck who also plays for Mississauga of the OHL. Mike G. Morreale of NHL.com said this about him:

"The Capitals could use some shut-down centers and Beck fits the bill. He tied for fifth among OHL rookies with 51 points (21 goals, 30 assists) in 68 games, and was first in voting for best on face-offs in a poll of OHL Eastern Conference coaches after he finished second in the league in face-off winning percentage (60.6 percent; minimum 400 face-offs). He might be one of the most consistent players in this year’s draft class."

Those centers and more are what’s at stake for the Capitals in this year’s NHL Draft. They’ll need to stock up on that position now that Backstrom’s future is uncertain. Which center do you think the Caps will take at the center position with the #20th pick?