An early look at Washington Capitals team needs for 2024 NHL Draft

The Washington Capitals have a chance to really stock up on some prospects in the next three NHL Drafts. This year they have, per PuckPedia, a first round pick, a second, three thirds, one fourth, one fifth, and one sixth. That's a total of eight picks this year.

The Caps will hold the 17th pick in the first round of this year's NHL Draft and they need to do what they've done, draft a forward. One suggestion by Sammi Silber of The Hockey News was that the Caps should go the route of Igor Chernyshov. Silber notes that he's a power forward that was ranked the ninth best international skater by NHL Central Scouting.

Yes he's Russian and he's got the Alex Ovechkin connection as he plays for the Dynamo Moscow in the KHL. He's listed as six foot two and 192 pounds. This season Cheryshov split time between the MHL and KHL.

Before the level up to the KHL, Chernyshov had 13 goals and 15 assists for 28 points in 23 games. Another need the Caps should go with is trifecta where they take a goalie, a forward, and a defenseman in the third round. They have a chance this year to do exactly that.

When it comes to 2025, the Caps will have three second round picks and two pairs of third and fifth round picks. As the Caps look to upgrade their roster, general manager Brian MacLellan said to local media that the Caps are looking at all options and just like in drafts past they're going to take the best available option. Ross Mahoney and the rest of the scouting department know the assignment.

Nicklas Backstrom is expected to end up on LTIR and T.J. Oshie could be in a similar situation as well. That would give the Caps more wiggle room when it comes to free agent spending when the draft concludes. There hasn't been any significant moves by the organization except for this, the team extended bona fide offers to defenseman Cam Allen and forwards Patrick Thomas and Brett Hyland to extend their rights.

Capitals Insider Tarik El-Bashir of Monumental Sports Network also noted that the team did not sign 2022 fifth rounder Jake Karabela or 2020 seventh rounder Oskar Magnusson.

Don't forget that the first round of the NHL Drafat is on Friday June 28 while rounds 2-7 will air on Saturday June 29.