Top 5 draft sleepers to bolster the Capitals
The Washington Capitals are picking eighth in the 2023 NHL Draft unless they trade up. You have a general idea who I think they’re going to take. But what about other sleepers they could take in later rounds?
#5 Scott Ratzlaff
Scott Ratzlaff is a goaltender of Seattle of the WHL. The Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League. He’s played with the Thunderbirds for two seasons.
In 2021 22 he played in 22 games and had a 2.48 goals against average and a .904 save percentage. He had a shutout while posting a 17-2-1 record.
Last season he played in 34 games and went 25-8-0 and had a 2.15 goals against average and a .918 save percentage.
#4 Kalan Lind
Kalan Lind is a left winger for the Red Deer of the WHL aka Western Hockey League. He could be available in the second round.
He’s spent the last three seasons with the Red Deer Rebels. Before that in 2020 21 he was with the Saskatoon Conacts U18 AAA of the SMAAHL where he had seven goals and seven assists for 14 points in six games.
Then with the Rebels that year he had six points in 15 games with four goals and two assists. In 2021 22 he had 20 goals and 18 assists for 38 points in 61 games.
Last season he had 16 goals and 28 assists for 44 points in 43 games. He had a combined 11 points in 20 playoff games the last two years.
#3 Dalibor Dvorsky
These next three slides will focus on who the Caps could take in the first round if Matvei Michkov isn’t available. Dalibor Dvorsky is a center that can also play right wing.
Here’s what Elite Prospects said about him in their draft guide:
Dvorsky is always attacking inside, with and without the puck, and he has the skill to dangle defenders on his way there. He sees teammates quickly, too. He’s really capable of keeping the puck under pressure and his technique, rolling/short motions, is great.
With AIK J20 of the J20 National he had 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points in 10 games. In the playoffs he had four points in three games with three goals and one assists.
He also played for AIK of Hockey Allsvenskan where he recorded 14 points in 38 games with six goals and eight assists.
He also was on the international stage. In WJC 18 with Slovakia U18 as an alternate captain he had 13 points in seven games with eight goals and five assists.
In five games with WJC 20 with Slovakia U20 he had three points in five games with one goal and two assists. He also played for Slovakia U20 for International Jr. where he had a goal and an assist.
#2 Oliver Moore
If Michkov isn’t available then the Caps strategy would be drafting the best player available. One such player that could fall into their lap at the eighth spot could be Oliver Moore.
Here’s what Elite Prospects said about Oliver Moore in their 2023 NHL Draft Guide:
He’s always working to win races, be first on loose pucks, and create. Lots of skating skills: cutbacks, cuts, jabs, heel-to-heel, and more, and he uses them all at different speeds. At his best, Moore’s anticipation allows him to process plays one or two steps ahead of everyone else on the ice. Blended eye- level deception and feints clear bodies and sticks, opening up passing lanes that other, less inventive players may not be able to access.
Oliver Moore is expected to attend college at the University of Minnestoa. He was on the U.S. National U18 team the last two years. Last season he had 31 goals and 44 assists for 75 lints in 61 games.
He also played in 23 games for the USNTDP Juniors of the USHL were he had eight goals and 17 assists for 25 points in 23 games.
He also played for USA’s U18 team as an alternate captain for the WJC 18 where he had nine points in seven games with four goals and five assists.
#1 Nate Danielson
Nate Danielson is a center for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL. He spent the last three seasons with them.
His first year saw him score 15 points in 24 games with three goals and 12 assists. In 2021 22 he had 23 goals and 34 assists for 57 points in 53 games. In the playoffs he had three points in six games with one goal and two apples.
Last season with the Brandon Wheat Kings h had 33 goals and 45 assists for 78 points in 68 games.
Here’s what Elite Prospects wrote in their draft guide:
Danielson was a creator of rush offence, building speed beneath the puck, charging through the neutral zone with possession, carving the ice up with powerful, agile crossovers, and turning the corner on opposing defenceman. Equal parts natural speed as a skater and handling skill made that a relatively effective signature move for the Wheat Kings centre.
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