Capitals sign Andrew Cristall to entry level contract

The Washington Capitals made their first draft pick signing from the 2023 class as they signed second rounder Andrew Cristall to a three year entry level contract.

Cristall’s contract will carry an average annual value (AAV) of $810,000 at the NHL level and $82,500 in the AHL. He was selected at 40th overall.

Cristall was ranked fifth among North American left wings and 15th among all North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.

The five foot 10, 175 pound forward spent last season with the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL), leading the team in goals with 39, assists with 56 and points with 95.

His 1.76 points per game ranked fourth in the WHL while his 95 points ranked tied for sixth. He was named Kelowna’s team MVP and was selected to the WHL B.C. Division First All Star Team.

During the 2021 22 season, Cristall set a Kelowna Rockets franchise record for goals by a 16 year old with 28 and tied the franchise record for points by a 16 year old with 69 (nice).

In 129 career WHL games with Kelowna, Cristall has recorded 169 points with a very nice 69 goals and 100 assists.

The native of Vancouver, British Columbia won a gold medal with Canada at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup finishing the tournament with six points with one goal and five assists in five games.

In addition, Cristall served as an alternate captain at the 2023 Under 18 World Championship where he registered six points with two goals and four assists in seven games and helped Canada to the bronze medal.

Cristall was a participant at the Caps annual summer development camp. What I observed from the lone session that I attended is his speed and stick handling which I was impressed with.

The Athletic called him months before the draft as an “offensive threat that cannot be doubted”. Someday we’ll hopefully see it on the NHL ice.