The Capitals draft big versatile forward with the 96th overall pick

After trading the 93rd overall pick to the Ottawa Senators for the 96th and a 2027 seventh-round pick, the Capitals selected left winger Maxim Schafer. The 18-year-old German forward was one of the most talked-about players among international scouts. He has spent the last season with the Eisbären Berlin of the DEL, the top German hockey league. In 31 games, he had one goal and two assists for three points. He also spent time with the Eisbaren junior team, appearing in 94 games, racking up 81 goals and 100 assists for 181 points.

Schafer gets a lot of praise for his skating ability. With him being 6'4" and 187 pounds, it is always a concern that their size will hinder their ability to be an efficient skater. However, that is not the case for Schafer. He's able to out-skate other players, which leads to more breakaways and scoring opportunities. He also has a very powerful shot, which helps him get the puck behind the goalie.

There are concerns about his physicality. While he has the frame not to get pushed around, he does not use that frame to his advantage. He's not the type of player to lay out big hits or be someone that can bring physcaility. Although it has not affected him yet, it could become a problem in a more physically demanding league. It may be something he has to work on while he's developing in the minors or overseas.

There are a lot of mix feelings when it comes to Schafer. Some people did not think he would be drafted due to him playing in Germany, while others thought he would be a second to third round pick had he played in North America. He's a high risk high reward type player, which is what you have to do with the later round picks. If everything works right he could be a fixture in the Capitals bottom six in the next three to five seasons.