Top 5 players the Capitals must avoid in 2023 NHL Draft
The Washington Capitals pick eighth in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft unless they decide to trade up. You’ve seen our annual mock drafts including the Caps centric one. You’ve seen our sleeper picks and other options to consider.
Now today let’s focus on the players to avoid. And yes I did just troll with Filip Forsberg again.
#5 Oliver Moore
It is likely the Caps will pass on Oliver Moore who could possibly drop to as low as 10th. He’s a center and the Caps are well stocked on centers.
Here’s what Elite Prospects said in their annual 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.
On the US National U18 Team he had 31 goals and 44 assists for 75 points.
#4 Tom Willander
The Caps are stocked on defenseman and Tom Willander is exactly that. He’s from Stockholm, Sweden and for Rogle BK J20 in the J20 National he had 25 points in 39 games with four goals and 21 assists.
Here’s what Elite Prospects said about him in their draft guide:
Willander’s value stems from the combination of high-end skating and motor. He’s always engaged defensively, using his dynamic posture and evasive footwork to guide attackers away from the middle and break up plays along the boards. When you add the fact that he’s both strong and skilled physically and relentlessly competes for every puck – he’s a nightmare to play against. Even if you start or manage to gain an advantage, Willander has the quickness to recover most of the time.
The Caps will probably draft a defenseman or two but I don’t see them doing it in the first round.
#3 David Reinbacher
Again the Caps are good on defense so I think they should pass on David Reinbacher. Here’s what Ian Kennedy of Yahoo Sports had to say though:
Washington is getting older, and the Alex Ovechkin era is creeping closer to an end. Securing a blueliner to take over for John Carlson as the team’s backbone would be a coup at this spot. Reinbacher has that potential, and can step to the AHL next season.
Elite Prospects added in their draft guide:
His game rests on a projectable, rock solid defensive foundation. As opponents attack through the neutral zone, he gaps up early, builds speed going backward to match that of the puck carrier, takes away the middle of the ice with his stick, and closes with force once he’s registered support.
He recorded 22 points in 46 games with EHC Kloten with three goals and 19 assists.
#2 Dmitri Simashev
Again Dmitri Simashev is a defenseman which is the position the Caps need to avoid in the first round. See where I’m going here?
Here’s what Elite Prospects said:
He has perfect posture, sinking deep into his stride, with ample flexibility through his hips, knees, and ankles, allowing him to generate power and agility that few can match. He gaps up early in space and can match opponents speed with relative ease, and his considerable defensive range allows him to recover if he’s lost a step. He can match opponents footwork with ease in the small-area game, taking away time and space before closing with force.
He had 10 points in 29 regular season games for Loko Yaroslavl with one goal and nine assists.
#1 Oliver Bonk
Oliver Bonk is another defenseman. He plays for the London Knights of the OHL. He recorded 40 points in 67 games with 10 goals and 30 assists last season.
A prototypical shutdown defenceman, Bonk safeguards his team by backtracking ahead of offensive turnovers, blocks access to the defensive zone, forces opponents to dump the puck around him, and then seals the puck from them on the back wall. He pushes attackers wide in the defensive zone and scans the ice behind him to stop backdoor plays.
Those are my top five players for the Caps to avoid at the draft. Should be a fun night on Wednesday.