Washington Capitals Draft Grades: Alexander Suzdalev

At the tail end of Washington Capitals Development Camp, the team began to hand out rookie entry level contacts. We decided to in addition announce those signings also grade those selections. So let’s start with Alexander Suzdalev who signed a three year entry level contract.

The forward will earn $775,000 in each of his first two seasons of the deal and two ways in the third including $800,000 in the NHL and $82,500 in the AHL.

The 18 year old was selected by the Capitals with the 70th overall pick in this year’s NHL Draft. The six foot two, 172 pound left wing led HV71 Sweden Jr) in scoring and ranked 10th in Sweden’s top junior league with 51 points with 15 goals and 36 assists in 45 games. Suzdalev added four points with three goals and one assist in five playoff games, which tied for first on the team.

Suzdalev also appeared in five games with HV71 of Hockey Allsvenskan (Sweden 2), in three games with HV71’s J18 Nationell club with two goals and three assists for five points and in one game with the J18 Region club where he had one goal and two assists for three points.

Suzdalev also won a gold medal with Team Sweden at the 2022 IIHF World U18 Championships, skating in six games. He was ranked sixth among European left wings and 26th among all European skaters by NHL Central Scouting.

Draftin Europe via Elite Prospects said this about Suzdalev:

"Displays the stickhandling ability needed to make plays in tight spaces.. can use his good hands and reach to find his way through opponents."

Grade A: The Caps did what they had to do in this year’s draft and that’s to load up on forwards. Alexander Suzdalev is a natural goal scorer like another Alexander on this team. This was a good pick for a third rounder.