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Top 3 Capitals prospects to watch at Rookie Camp

By Michael Marzzacco |
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 13: Hendrix Lapierre #29 of the Washington Capitals celebrates his first career NHL goal with teammates against the New York Rangers during the second period at Capital One Arena on October 13, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 13: Hendrix Lapierre #29 of the Washington Capitals celebrates his first career NHL goal with teammates against the New York Rangers during the second period at Capital One Arena on October 13, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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Washington Capitals Rookie Camp is underway. Today they’ll be at MedStar Capitals Iceplex while the next three days they’ll be at McMullen Hockey Arena in Annapolis, Maryland. Yesterday we looked at the top 3 undrafted invites to watch.

Today, like we promised, this article will feature familiar faces that you already know. But we’ll cover them anyway. You can’t not have a top 3 team prospects after you just did the undrafted invites.

So anyway, if you’re coming to Arlington or Annapolis here are the top 3 future Caps to watch:

Vincent Iorio, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
Vincent Iorio, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports /

#3 Vincent Iorio

One player who you could see called up to the Capitals as soon as this season is Vincent Iorio. Here’s what the Caps Rookie Camp guide said about the defenseman:

Iorio, the Capitals’ second-round choice, 55th overall, in the 2021 NHL Draft, recorded 22 points (2g, 20a) in 63 regular- season games with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2022-23. The Coquitlam, British Columbia native ranked second among Hershey defensemen in assists, points, games played, shots (86) and plus/minus rating (+17). In 15 Calder Cup Playoff games, Iorio registered five points (1g, 4a), including an assist in Game 7 of the Calder Cup Finals at Coachella Valley. Iorio, who also appeared in three games with Washington last season, made his NHL debut and recorded his first career point on March 4 against the San Jose Sharks.
Hendrix Lapierre, Washington Capitals (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Hendrix Lapierre, Washington Capitals (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

#2 Hendrix Lapierre

Hendrix Lapierre has already got a brief taste of NHL action and even scored a memorable first NHL goal. He is starving to make the opening night roster again and make a big impact.

The Rookie Camp guide said this:

Lapierre appeared in 60 games during his first professional season with Hershey in 2022-23, recording 30 points (15g, 15a). The 6’0”, 189-pound forward ranked second among Hershey rookies in goals, points, power play points (10) and shots (114). In addition, Lapierre ranked third on the Bears in power-play goals (5). The Gatineau, Quebec native added six points (3g, 3a) in 20 playoff games, including the game-tying goal in Game 7 of the Calder Cup Finals. Lapierre, the Capitals’ first- round choice, 22nd overall, in the 2020 NHL Draft, has scored one goal and posted a +2 plus/minus rating in six career NHL games with Washington.

Lapierre was big in the playoffs for the Hershey Bears. Having a game tying goal in a Game 7 is no small feat and it helped set up a historic game winner in overtime from Mike Vecchione. While he is still likely to be back with the Bears this season, a good rookie camp and a dominant training camp and preseason could turn some heads.

Ivan Miroshnichenko, Washington Capitals (Photo by RvS.Media/Robert Hradil/Getty Images)
Ivan Miroshnichenko, Washington Capitals (Photo by RvS.Media/Robert Hradil/Getty Images) /

#1 Ivan Miroshnichenko

Ivan Miroshnichenko is the one a lot of us are excited to see. We all finally got a glimpse of him this summer at Development Camp. Big dude who can skate and score with ease. I won’t say he’s like Alex Ovechkin but I will say if he continues to execute in his development he can someday give him a run for his money.

Or at the very least score more 50 goal seasons. Maybe nobody else will catch 895. It’s hard enough that Ovechkin is the only one chasing it.

The delay in watching him this year, a year later after he was drafted by the Capitals, was he was still overcoming Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Now he is cancer free and ready for Rookie Camp.

Here’s what the Rookie Camp guide said:

The 6’1”, 185-pound forward recorded four points (3g, 1a) in 23 games with Avangard Omsk in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) last season, where he averaged 8:27 of ice time per game. Miroshnichenko also recorded three assists in four games with Omskie Krylia in the Supreme Hockey League (Russia-2) and 14 points (10g, 4a) in 12 games with Omskie Yastreby in the Junior Hockey League (Russia-Jr.) in 2022-23. Miroshnichenko tallied seven points (2g, 5a) in 16 playoffs games with Omskie Yastreby, which ranked tied for eighth on the team.

Top 3 undrafted invites to watch at Capitals Rookie Camp. light. More

Those are the top 3 Capitals prospects to watch at Rookie Camp. Be sure to check out a practice as each one is free of charge and open to the public. Once Rookie Camp ends, it’ll be time to make way for training camp and then we’ll really see the light at the end of the offseason tunnel. Well technically the offseason is over but we’re ready for the games to count.

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