It’s time once again to dive into the next generation of Washington Capitals with our annual look at the top 25 players under the age of 25 in the organization. In creating this list, we looked at two factors: the player’s potential and the player’s proximity to making it to the NHL, with an emphasis on NHL readiness. So for example, we have Lynden Lakovic ranked lower than Vincent Iorio (for now) because, while Lakovic has way more potential, Iorio has put in the time and looks like he has NHL potential.
Let’s get things rolling with #25-11…
25) Antoine Keller G
Age: 20
2024-2025 season: (NL): 13GP, 3.16GAA .894sv%
2024-2025 season: (SL): 2GP, 1.95GAA .936sv%
2024-2025 season: (WC): 4GP, 3.98GAA .897sv%
2024-2025 season: (International): 7GP, 3.92GAA .889sv%
Keller was very busy last season, playing for four different teams over the course of the year. In fact, he’s been bouncing around to different teams during a season for years now. His numbers are not spectacular, but all the teams he played for were not great. The 11 games he played for WC and International were for France and, no offense to France, but they’re not exactly a hockey powerhouse.
It looks like Keller will be making the jump to North America and will probably settle in the ECHL. That should be very good for him. He’ll get more consistency on, hopefully, a very good team. It’s so hard to predict goalies, but we know the Caps are great at drafting goalies (though it’s been scarce lately) and that the Caps are very high on him. That alone makes Keller worth keeping an eye on.
24) Ludwig Persson C/W
Age: 21
2024-2025 season: (AHL): 1GP, 0-1-1
2024-2025 season: (Liiga): 52GP, 4-12-16
Persson spent the season in Finland’s top league, which is a decent enough league, where he played a depth role there and was semi-productive. He was 22nd among U22 players in that league. You’d certainly like to see more from him offensively for a third round pick. He did make the jump to the AHL in the spring and picked up an assist in his one game of action…which is a good start, although obviously a small sample size.
It seems like Persson will be sticking in North America in the AHL, which will be a good test for him. Maybe he’ll thrive better here than in Europe. It’s hard to know at this point whether he can be relied on to produce offensively, but he’s very reliable and plays defense very well, and may be suited to a fourth line at the NHL level if he can put everything together and prove he deserves to be there.
23) Zac Funk LW/RW
Age: 22
2024-2025 season: (AHL): 15GP, 2-2-4
2024-2025 season: (ECHL): 11GP, 3-6-9
After dominating his last WHL eligible season, Funk made the jump to the pros for the Caps and acclimated himself well. He didn’t dominate, but nine points in 11 ECHL games as a 21-year-old (he turned 22 in July) and four points in 15 AHL games as a depth piece isn’t bad either.
Funk should be fighting for a full time AHL spot this season. It wouldn’t be the worst thing for him to go to the ECHL as a 22-year-old, but if he does, he needs to be a point-per-game player down there – and obviously AHL is preferable. The chances of Funk making the NHL as an undrafted player is pretty low but he has great offensive skills and instincts, especially his shot. There’s an outside shot that he could maybe become a good scoring third-liner, maybe reminiscent of Caps’ legend Brett Connolly.
22) Petr Sikora C
Age: 19
2024-2025 season: (Czechia U20): 2GP, 2-3-5
2024-2025 season: (Czechia): 34GP, 7-8-15
2024-2025 season: (WJC): 7GP, 4-3-7
2024-2025 season: (International-Jr): 21GP, 8-11-19
Sikora was busy last season playing a lot of games across four teams. In the Czechia league, against men, he led all U19 players in points. He put up the fourth-best point total ever for an U19 player (15) and third best point per game (0.44) behind only Martin Necas (0.71) and Tomas Hertl (0.66). Now, that’s not to say that he’ll be close to those players, because he likely won’t, but it’s not the worst thing to even be in the conversation with players of that caliber. He also had a good World Juniors, going a point per game, and placing fourth on this Czech team, also leading his team with a +10.
Sikora will go back to the Czechia league next season where he should get more time and responsibility, and hopefully put up some points. Sikora won’t ever be an elite offensive player but his work ethic is second to none. He’s not going to put up points by pure skill but he will by going to the corners, digging the puck out, then crashing hard into the net. I could certainly see a world where he becomes a good defensive fourth liner and great on the PK, but he has a ways to go to prove that.
21) Garin Bjorklund G
Age: 23
2024-2025 season: (ECHL): 29GP, 2.02GAA .927sv%
2024-2025 season: (AHL): 2GP, 1.49 .942sv%
It’s very, very odd to have the highest-ranked goalie on this list be this far down, as after years of drafting quality goaltender after quality goaltender, the Caps have been quiet on that front of late. Maybe Bjorklund can change that. After a back injury that kept Garin out for all but one game of the 2022-23 ECHL season, he came back in 2023-24 and did fine, not great. This last season, however, he was at the top of his game, being one of the better goalies in the ECHL and then putting together a stellar performance in his two games in the AHL.
This will be a big season for Garin, and he needs to prove last year wasn’t a fluke. He’ll probably be the main starter with the Stingrays while Mitch Gibson makes the jump to the backup for Hershey, but Garin could push for that position if he continues to play well. A full year in the ECHL won’t hurt either. He just turned 23 so he has more runway to go, and frankly goalies are voodoo so it’s very hard to predict their NHL potential. Let’s see what he does this season and go from there.
20) Eriks Mateiko LW/RW
Age: 19
2024-2025 season: (QMJHL): 47GP, 26-15-41
2024-2025 season: (WJC): 5GP, 5-0-5
First of the Caps “big boys” on the list is Mateiko, who clocks in at 6’6” 209lbs. He had a good year in the QMJHL, getting traded in the middle of the season and performing slightly better with the team he ended the season with. He turned some heads at the WJC, scoring five goals in five games on a bad Latvia team (no one else on his team scored more than one goal), including upsetting Team Canada with a goal in regulation and then the winning shootout goal to take the W for his home country.
It’s unknown where Mateiko will play this season. Because he came from the import draft, he is free to sign with the Bears as a 19-year-old if the Caps want him to do so, and he has the size for the pros, but it wouldn’t be the worst thing for him to go back to juniors and spend the season working on his game. He has size, physicality and obviously a lethal shot. If he could clean up his skating and improve his playmaking he could be a good middle-six player in the NHL, but it would be perfectly fine if he settled on the fourth line, which is very possible. He’s only 19 so has a long road of development ahead of him, which suits the Caps timeline fine.
19) Alexander Suzdalev LW/RW
Age: 21
2024-2025 season: (ECHL): 50GP, 15-24-39
2024-2025 season: (AHL): 3GP, 0-0-0
With the Bears being pretty packed last season, Suzdalev had to stay down in the ECHL on a very good Stingrays team. He did well in his first season there as a 20-year-old (birthday in March), scoring at a top-six rate for the team. He still seems to have some consistency issues, but was more consistent than he was in the juniors.
The Bears should have a couple of slots open for him this season and it would be huge if he can grab a top-nine spot with power play opportunities. Suzdalev has good size and silky mitts with a great one timer. He has all the skill to be effective in the NHL, but he needs to prove it at each level. He’s always had issues with his consistency. If he can stick with the Bears this season and be productive, then we can add him to the lengthy list of good forward prospects the Caps have been hoarding – and if he’s not able to beat out his fellow forwards in the system, he could also make for some good trade bait down the road.
18) Henrik Rybinski C/W
Age: 24
2024-2025 season: (AHL): 60GP, 10-25-35
Rybinski has become a very trusted bottom-six player for the Bears, with flashes of skill that could maybe help him crack the NHL. Last season, Rybinski had his best professional year in the AHL, playing physically but also making some pretty plays.
Rybinski turned 24 in the summer, meaning there’s basically no more runway for him; he has to make the NHL now or he probably never will. Hopefully he plays well enough that maybe the Caps can ship him off for a draft pick and he can get NHL minutes elsewhere.
17) Bogdan Trineyev LW/RW
Age: 23
2024-2025 season: (AHL): 62GP, 14-8-22
Trineyev is in a similar boat to Rybinski in that he is a physical presence for the Bears who makes up part of the team’s bottom-six and can’t seem to get out of it and break out offensively. He’s done very well there, though, in creating energy and pitching in points every third game or so. He also put up five goals and seven points in eight playoff games this past spring. An energy player that shows up big for the playoffs is the kind of player you need when the games matter most.
Trineyev is NHL-ready but currently there are no spots for him, even as an extra. That said, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get some NHL games this upcoming season when injuries inevitably happen. He’s 23, so like Rybinski, his runway is just about up for him as a forward. It’s hard to see him having a future with the Caps because of their logjam at forward but he’s worth keeping an eye on.
16) Milton Gastrin C
Age: 18
2024-2025 season: (J18 Nationell) 2GP, 0-3-3
2024-2025 season: (J20 Nationell) 40GP, 18-24-42
2024-2025 season: (SHL) 8GP, 0-0-0
Gastrin was a player a lot teams, including the Caps, thought would go in the first round in 2025 draft, so when he fell to the second round the Caps were quick to scoop him up. He had a great season in Sweden for various teams, and even played eight games in the SHL, which is one of the best leagues in the world. He didn’t produce any points, but for a 17-year-old (he turned 18 in June), to even get that many games in the SHL is a great sign.
It’s uncertain where he’ll play next season. He’ll probably get another SHL stint and hopefully he can stick, although it’s more likely he ends up in the J20 Nationell league. The hope for Gastrin is he ends up being like prime Lars Eller, who in his prime was an elite third-line center who could also be trusted to jump into the top-six when needed. If the Caps can get that from Gastrin that would be huge, but don’t count Gastrin out to be a top-six center, either. He’s a great skater, thinks the game at a high level, and is a very good playmaker.
15) Leon Muggli LHD
Age: 19
2024-2025 season: (NL) 40GP, 5-6-11
2024-2025 season: (AHL) 2GP, 0-0-0
Muggli just had an amazing U18 season in the NL, putting up one of the best point totals by a defenseman in the last two decades and only being beat out by the great Roman Josi (24 points in 42 games), the up-and-comer David Reinbacher (22 points in 46 games)…and himself, the season before, when he posted 12 points in 42 games. You always like to see an improvement year over year but it’s a good sign that he’s still in that top group – especially since he’s not projected to be an offensive defenseman down the road, so points aren’t everything.
There’s still no word on where Muggli will play next season, but Hershey is a possibility. Being in the AHL at such a young age isn’t always a great move, but Muggli plays a professional style. He’s quick, plays hard, and has a great defensive mind, reminiscent of guys like Martin Fehervery and Jonas Siegenthaler. If he can end up being anything close to those defensive stalwarts, Muggli will have a bright future. He is incredibly young (just turned 18 back on July 9) so he has a lot of runway to get better and better.
14) Cam Allen RHD
Age: 20
2024-2025 season: (OHL) 49GP, 11-34-45
Much like his career overall so far, Allen had an up-and-down season last year. He fell to the Caps in the fifth round in 2023 due to a rough DY season, after he was highly touted going into his DY year. His DY+1 year he was hurt and only played 25 games. Then this past season he was playing well, then was traded to the eventual Memorial Cup Champions the London Knights. Shortly after being traded to London, he was in a drunk-driving incident where luckily no one was hurt, but he was put on probation and suspended from the OHL for 15 games.
If Allen can straighten himself out a bit and stay focused, there’s an NHL player there. He’s not elite at any one thing but kind of does everything quite well, although his breakout skating might be his best asset. He’ll get a big test this upcoming season playing with the Bears against tough competition. He’ll probably need to cook for a couple of years, but the Caps will have room on their right side down the road, with only Matt Roy sticking around long term. If Cam can put it all together and keep improving, he should be able to carve himself a NHL spot with the Capitals in the future.
13) Lynden Lakovic LW/RW
Age: 18
2024-2025 season: (WHL) 47GP, 27-31-58
The Caps have been quite adept at finding what seem to be steals with their late first-round/early second-round picks over the last few years, and Lakovic looks like he’ll be one of those. On paper, Lakovic’s season wasn’t all that impressive, though 58 points in 47 WHL games for your draft year is still good. But when you dig deeper you see how good his season was. First it’s important to note he was on the worst team in the WHL; his team only won 15 games and lost 51.
On top of that, he was the only impactful player on his team most of the season, as the only other good player was Brayden Yager (and he was traded after only playing 21 games with Lynden). Lakovic also missed 21 games due to injury, so 58 points in 47 games is incredibly impressive. If he played a full season he would have led his team by 36 points! That’s incredible for a winger driving his team like that.
Lakovic is a lanky winger that is a top-end dual threat, someone who can find his open linemate in dangerous areas or rip it himself for a goal. He has very good speed and maneuverability, just about the perfect package except his physicality (or lack thereof). For someone his size (6’4” 201lbs) he simply doesn’t use his body enough. Now, he does not need to become Tom Wilson and look for big hits, but he does need to use his body more, especially defensively to keep opponents pinned or force them out of lanes. Lakovic is on his last year in the WHL so look for him to be traded to a WHL contender. He has the potential to put up huge numbers this season, and has all the tools to be a very effective top-six winger in the NHL.
12) Terik Parascak RW
Age: 19
2024-2025 season: (WHL) 59GP, 28-54-82
“The Super Rookie”, as Parascak was called last season, had a good-not-great D+2 season. In 9 fewer games he had 22 fewer points but it’s important to note that three of the five top scorers from his rookie season left, leaving just Parascak and Riley Heidt to carry the team. Heidt is off to the AHL this upcoming season so it will be up to Parascak and a couple of others to keep the team together. Parascak played a ton of minutes on both special teams and at even strength – too many, perhaps, as he was clearly tired as the season went on. He was called on to do a lot for an 18-year-old in only his second WHL season.
Parascak is a very young, uber smart winger who will probably make the NHL solely because of his elite brain. It’s an added bonus that he has a great shot and above-average passing and vision. His one true flaw is his speed, but he’s already improved upon that. He’s similar to a Justin Williams-type of player; not the biggest, fastest, most elite sniper or anything like that but his brain was so good he became a puck possession hog that made everyone around him better. Parascak has the makings of being a great top-six support player or potentially a jack of all spades third liner that can play anywhere in the lineup on both special teams.
11) Vincent Iorio RHD
Age: 22
2024-2025 season (AHL): 67GP, 5-15-20
Iorio completed his third AHL season with the Bears, where he was unable to surpass his first season’s point total of 22, but like Muggli and Ryan Chesley (who we’ll see higher up in this list), offense is never going to be Iorio’s game. He will always be a large defensive defensemen who can end offensive threats and then get the puck out of the zone quickly. Still, you’d like to see him add a bit more offense to his game, though the Bears as a whole last year just weren’t dominant as they were the two previous seasons.
It’s hard to predict how a defensive defensemen will project at the NHL level. He’s also got a bit of Siegenthaler-ness to his game, someone whose AHL career was less impressive as it went on but once he got to the NHL he was one of the better defensive defensemen in the game. This could be the case where Iorio is just done with the AHL and needs to be in the NHL. The issue is there’s no room for him currently unless there’s an injury. Trevor van Riemsdyk is actually a perfect comparison for Iorio. They have size, smarts and are uber reliable. Trevor didn’t make his full NHL debut until 24, so that could be the path we see Iorio take.