And With The 199th Pick In The 2007 Entry Draft, The Washington Capitals Select...

It's hard enough to guess who the Caps will take with the 5th pick overall, but here's a name I'll throw out as a prediction for their second seventh round pick, 199th overall:

Patrick Cullen

Cullen, who will attend RPI in the Fall, is a local kid from Ashburn, VA who attended Gonzaga and led the Washington Junior Nationals in goals (38) and points (70) this past season. He was drafted fourth overall in the USHL draft last month and, like Jeff Halpern and Stephen Werner before him, is an alum of the Little Caps.

Not surprisingly, Cullen wants to be a Washington Capital. Asked by whom he would prefer to be drafted (that is, if he is drafted), he answered:

Getting drafted by anyone is an honor and I would be ecstatic. But if I had to make a choice I would say the Washington Capitals. I think it would be really cool to play in front of all my family and friends' night in and night out.

Now, Cullen isn't ranked among Central Scouting's Top 210 North American Skaters, but playing in the Atlantic Junior Hockey League, it's hard to get noticed. One thing you can bet on, however, is that the Caps know who Cullen is. After all, they play most of their games at Kettler Capitals Iceplex, and was coached by former Cap Mark Tinordi.

Red Line Report's Kyle Woodlief also knows who Cullen is:

The Atlantic Junior A League is not heavily scouted, but one prospect there really caught our eye this year: Washington Jr. Caps left winger Patrick Cullen.

Cullen was the only '89 birthdate in the loop's top 10 scorers with 38-32-70 totals, putting up good numbers in a league filled with overagers. He's got great speed and acceleration, a laser shot, and is very patient with the puck. Virtually unknown heading into the season, Cullen is coached by former NHL tough guy Mark Tinordi, who believes he has "tremendous upside and pro potential and is just starting to mature as a player." Cullen had been flying way under the radar, but lots of NHL chief scouts saw him at the recent Beantown Classic, and Red Line feels he'll get drafted off that showing.

Maybe he's not such a well-kept secret after all.