The Washington Capitals have six prospects representing their countries in the ongoing World Juniors Tournament. Among them are Ryan Leonard (eighth overall, 2023) and Cole Hutson (43rd overall, 2024) for Team USA. Also among the kids is Eriks Mateiko (90th overall, 2024) representing Team Latvia. Leon Muggli is with Team Switzerland. He was 52nd overall in 2024.
Closing out the six is Miroslav Satan (212th overall, 2024) and Petr Sikora (128th overall, 2024) for Team Slovakia. In this exercise though we aren't going to talk about the World Juniors. I'm sure we will, however, in the very near future. Instead we'll talk about the 2024 Capitals Draft Class one by one.
Terik Parascak: Drafted 17th overall, the center has 16 goals and 28 assists for 44 points in 28 games with the Prince George Cougars of the WHL. Caps did good with this first rounder. His future should be bright like Ryan Leonard's.
Cole Hutson: Selected in the second round at 43rd overall, the Boston University kid has four goals and 10 assists for 14 points in 16 games so far this season. In the World Juniors he already has five assists just one game in at the time of writing this.
Leon Muggli: Also drafted in round two at 52nd overall. The defenseman has five points in 21 games with EV Zug on loan after signing an entry level contract over the summer following an impressive development camp.
Ilya Protas: The brother of Aliaksei, Ilya also signed an entry level deal over the summer. A third rounder at 75th overall, lil Protas has 19 goals and 26 assists for 45 points in 30 games with the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL. Another home run selection in what turned out to be Brian MacLellan's final draft and Chris Patrick's first.
Eriks Mateiko: He was signed to an entry level deal at training camp. Drafted in the third round at 90th overall, the 19 year old has 14 goals and five assists for 19 points in 23 games as team captain of the Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL.
Nicolas Kempf: The goalie was drafted in the fourth round at 114th overall and currently plays at Notre Dame. He's 1-5-0 this season for the Fighting Irish with a 2.88 goals against average and a .918 save percentage.
Petr Sikora: Selected in the sixth round at 178th overall, Sikora already has a goal in World Juniors Play for Czechia. He also has four goals and eight assists for 12 points with them on the International Stage and has six points in 21 games with HC Ocelari Trinec with four goals and two assists.
Miroslav Satan: Drafted in the seventh round at 212th overall, Satan has three points in 19 games with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL with two goals and one assist. He also has an assist on the International Stage with Slovakia and is the son of the former NHLer with the same name.
Grade A-: Overall this was a quality draft by the Capitals. This is how you go out with a bang Las Vegas style to set the stage nicely if you're Brian MacLellan. He did exactly that and more with the Logan Thompson and Pierre-Luc Dubois acquisitions among others.