2023 NHL Draft: Capitals Select Andrew Cristall

With the 40th pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, the Capitals have selected Andrew Cristall from the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets.

“A dynamic player through and through, Cristall adds the extra flash to every play. He beats defenders with head fakes, handling skills, and slick edges before cutting inside or finding a teammate burst into the slot. He starts the plays, builds them, and then puts the finishing touches on them. He’s an inventive playmaker, capable of turning the mundane into the brilliant, breaking down opponents with feints and deception before sending perfectly weighted passes to his teammates to do the rest.” -EliteProspects 2023 NHL Draft Guide

Here’s how he was ranked by various scouts heading into this draft:

• Ranked #20 by CONSOLIDATED RANKING
• Ranked #19 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
• Ranked #19 by FCHOCKEY
• Ranked #24 by FLOHOCKEY/CHRIS PETERS
• Ranked #21 by DAILY FACEOFF
• Ranked #12 by THE HOCKEY NEWS
• Ranked #27 by TSN/BOB McKENZIE
• Ranked #25 by MCKEEN’S HOCKEY
• Ranked #35 by TSN/CRAIG BUTTON
• Ranked #15 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (NA Skaters)
• Ranked #25 by SPORTSNET
• Ranked #26 by HPR/SHANE MALLOY
• Ranked #15 by RECRUIT SCOUTING
• Ranked #14 by DOBBERPROSPECTS
• Ranked #28 by DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY
• Ranked #12 by SMAHT SCOUTING

Connor Bedard spoke at the NHL Combine about Capitals’ second-rounder Andrew Cristall, who’s been his teammate since they were 5 years old:

‘‘He’s probably the smartest hockey player I’ve gotten to play with…He’s a special player, and he’s going to make a team really happy.’’

— Matt Weyrich (@ByMattWeyrich) June 29, 2023

Andrew Cristall’s stat sheet:

Check out Cristall in action:

Additional Reading:

• 2023 NHL Draft Prospect Andrew Cristall is an ‘offensive threat’ who can’t be doubted ($)
• Why Andrew Cristall is this draft’s most divisive player

More to come…