The Washington Capitals secured another big body forward, drafting Lynden Lakovic with the 27th overall pick in the 2025 NHL draft. Lakovic is a left winger who projects to be a top-six winger. If everything goes right for him, he could be someone who averages 90 points per season. However, despite the hype surrounding him, he is not yet ready to make the jump to the NHL. So, where will Lakovic be skating during the 2025-26 season, and when can we expect to see him in the NHL?
Where is Lynden Lakovic at in his development, and what's next?
So far, Lakovic has spent most of his time at the junior level playing for the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL. In 153 career games with the Warriors, he's registered 47 goals and 57 assists for 104 points. He has also appeared in 30 playoff games for Moose Jaw, racking up 11 points. His ability to produce at the junior level is the first sign of a bright future. The WHL is regarded as one of the best leagues in the world and has produced a lot of good NHL talent.
At this point, it's unknown where Lakovic will play for the 2025-26 season. With the new rules allowing players who have played junior hockey to compete in the NCAA, we could see Lakovic attend college to hone his skills. However, the best fit for him would be with the Hershey Bears. There is not a more consistent team in the AHL than the Bears. They're constantly competing for the Calder Cup and are always seen as one of the best places to play. Lakovic can go there and learn what it takes to play winning hockey.
This would do wonders for Lakovic and give him an idea of what to expect with the Capitals. With contention window feeling like it is just opening for the Capitals, Lakovic should come up while the team is competing for a playoff spot in about three years. While playoff hockey can be intimidating for players at first, if Lakovic spends his development competing for Calder Cups, he'll know what to expect. This will make his transition to the NHL much smoother.
Regardless of where he plays in 2025-26, the most improtant thing to focus on is development. If all goes right, the Capitals could have a special player on their hands.