In the past, these rankings have been based on a mix between potential and how close they were to the NHL. So for example, this season, using those parameters, a player like Connor McMichael would be ranked ahead of Andrew Cristall, because McMichael has already proven to be a NHL player while Cristall, though he has a higher potential, has a long way to go to prove he’s ready for the NHL.
This time around, we’re going to go with rankings largely based on potential – think around 90% potential, 10% how they are progressing. Mostly because…well, it’s more fun, but it’s also more definitive.
(Also of note: player comparisons are not meant to imply that the player in question will become who they are being compared to, but rather just making a connection to a play style that matches both players. That doesn’t mean some won’t become like or even surpass their comparable, of course; just that it’s probably not in the cards for all of them.)
With the administrative stuff out of the way, let’s get into it with #25-11:
25) Patrick Thomas, C
6’0” 172lbs
19yo, 8/21/04
Update: Thomas was a D+1 draft pick this past summer by the Caps. He had a good year leading his team in points with 56 in 66 games. Granted, four other players would have easily passed him if they played a full season. Still leading your team in points and following it up with six points in six playoff games as well can only be a good sign.
Potential: Players that are D+1 drafted usually don’t end up being anything substantial, but it doesn’t mean the Caps won’t get a player out of Patrick. I could easily see him being a good bottom six player in the NHL with his above average playmaking ability.
24) Ryan Hofer, C
6’3” 192lbs
21yo, 5/10/2002
Update: Hofer played very well of his second full WHL season. He is an overager but has progressed every season which is something you always want to see. After being a leader and two-way player in the WHL, he will be joining the Hershey Bears this upcoming season. Usually I’m upset when young kids are stuck on the bottom six of the Bears but Hofer should really thrive there.
Potential: Hofer has all the making to be a strong bottom six, probably fourth line, energy player that can put up 10+ goals a season. He actually reminds me of our own Nic Dowd, which, if Hofer turns into a player like that, it would be huge for the Caps. Yeah fourth liners aren’t the sexiest things but you don’t win Cups without a great fourth line, especially a fourth line center.
23) Garin Bjorklund, G
6’2”. 174lbs
21yo, 5/28/2002
Update: Bjorklund missed the whole 2022-2023 season due to injury, only able to play just one ECHL game towards the end. He’s staying in the Hershey Bears system this upcoming season, probably spending most, if not all, of it in the ECHL.
Potential: Goalies are always tough to gauge in terms of potential, and the mix between Garin’s last WHL season, which was really rough behind the worst team in the league, and him missing all of last season, he’ll really need this upcoming season to show his potential. As of now, he’s looking like a backup goalie, but again, this season will give us a clearer view.
22) Ludwig Persson, C/LW
6’0”, 185lbs
19yo, 10/8/2003
Update: Persson had a decent season in Sweden’s equivalent AHL system to the SHL, HockeyAllsvenskan, putting up 15 points in 45 games. The Caps have loaned Ludwig to the Mestis league in Finland, which is also like the AHL league in Finland’s top league, Liiga. Hopefully there he’ll get top six minutes in that league, which is likely if the Caps felt like he had to switch leagues.
Potential: Persson is a speedy, versatile winger that can play in any situation you need. If he makes it to the NHL, he’ll probably be a good defensive bottom six player with strong penalty killing ability. There is some offensive potential in his play but nothing that will vault him into the top six in the NHL.
21) Chase Clark, G
6’6”, 218lbs
21yo, 4/8/2002
Update: Clark started zero games last season for Quinnipiac University. He did come in relief in eight games but did not start any of them. Luckily, he transferred to Sacred Heart University for this upcoming season where he’ll be the starter, getting most, if not all, the starts. He could really go off if he takes a hold of that opportunity.
Potential: Clark has shown really well in NHL preseason games and at the prospect camp scrimmages, but the lack of actual NCAA games leave his potential quite blurry. He has the size and the ability. If he can put it all together he could be a starter in the NHL, but he needs to prove it first. This upcoming season will be huge for him.
20) Henrik Rybinsky, C/W
6’1”, 172lbs
22yo, 6/26/2001
Update: Rybinski took his first year in the AHL well. He’s a very skilled player but was stapled to the bottom six for Hershey like most rookies are, but he didn’t let that affect him. He adapted his game seamlessly, shifting from an offensive player to a reliable defensive player and a very good penalty killer. The Bears will be absolutely loaded this upcoming season so it might be hard for him to break into the top six but his work ethic might force the coaches hand.
Potential: Though he’s a little bit on the older side, Henrik is still a really intriguing prospect. He’s a top tier passer and has a great vision. If he can stick with it in the AHL and keeps improving his game I could easily see him turn into a really good, reliable middle six player in the NHL that will be better suited for the third line but can also step into your second line if needed. He needs to start producing big if he wants to make the jump to the NHL someday.
19) Bogdan Trineyev, LW/RW
6’3”. 203lbs
21yo, 3/4/2002
Update: Trineyev surprised many by sticking in the KHL for most of last season. It would have been interesting to see how many games he would have played if he didn’t get an injury, but still, 13 points in 39 KHL games is good stuff for a kid that played mainly in the bottom six. He went on a tear at one point when he was put into the top six, putting up 11 points in 16 games. As of now, it looks like he’ll be playing for the Bears this upcoming season but that isn’t definite yet. Rumor is he could head back to the KHL, which might be better for him if he gets top six time there because he won’t get that time with the stacked Bears.
Potential: Trineyev is really interesting, because he’s this big Russian, but he’s a very strong playmaker. He actually plays a lot like Rybinski, who also is a strong playmaker. Bogdan has the potential to be a good middle six playmaking winger, where he’d probably thrive on the third line but can play in top six if you need to in a pinch. I put Trineyev above Rybinski due to age and his bigger size, but their play style and outcome are very similar.
18) Mitchell Gibson, G
6’1”, 187lbs
24yo, 6/25/1999
Update: Things were looking great for Gibson in his last season with Harvard. He was clocking in at a .925sv% then in the last two games he let in 10 goals on 56 shots for a .824sv%. It dropped his season save percentage to .919, which is still really good but still a tough way to end his collegiate career. He’ll probably play mainly in the ECHL but should also get some AHL time this upcoming season with the Bears.
Potential: Gibson is more of a positional goalie that relies on his brain and structure to stop pucks but that doesn’t stop him from making that last stretch save either. He’s 24 already so if he’s going to make the NHL he needs to prove it soon but I could still see him becoming a starter. He reminds me a lot of Braden Holtby but obviously Mitchell has a lot to prove to get to that point.
17) Antoine Keller, G
6’3”, 176lbs
18yo, 10/6/2004
Update: I know it’s weird to have Keller ranked higher than Gibson but there is just something about Keller that makes you think he could be something special. It certainly isn’t from his stats. He was a seventh round draft pick this summer after spending last season in a U20 Swiss league that doesn’t even track save percentage! He did well in tournaments posting a .921sv% in three games at the D1A for the World Juniors for France then posting a .920sv% in eight games at the International Juniors also for France. It looks like he’ll be playing in the QMJHL this upcoming season which will give us a much better look at him.
Potential: I have no idea what his potential is, but like I said, there’s something about him that makes him feel special. The Caps brass were ecstatic to get him, which is saying a lot for a seventh round pick. Additionally, when Caps draft a goalie it’s best to pay attention, they hit a lot of homers with their goalie picks. If he’s as special as the Caps think he’ll be, he will be a starter in the NHL.
16) Brent Johnson, RHD
5’11”, 174lbs
20yo, 3/20/2003
Update: Johnson had a pretty down year last season for the University of North Dakota. He suffered an injury at the start of December and didn’t play a single game after that. It was mainly due to his injury and he did return healthy but the coaching staff didn’t put him in. That led to him entering the portal and transferring to Ohio State where he should get top pairing time with top power play time as well, where he can show his strong puck moving skills.
Potential: I’ve always been a big fan of Johnson and his ability. He’s so calm with the puck, able to slow down the game until everyone is ready and set up. He has underrated passing ability with a decent wrister. He reminds me of Vince Dunn in his ability to push the play offensively even with his size. The Caps don’t have any defensive prospects that can really put up offensive numbers so it would be a great result if Brent could turn out that way for the Caps. Because as of now they only have Rasmus Sandin in their system who can put up points from the backend in the future.
15) Clay Stevenson, G
6’4”, 194lbs
24yo, 5/3/1999
Update: Stevenson had a great start to his professional career, posting a .919sv% through 36 games in the ECHL. He was top of the stat board for awhile but towards the end of season he slipped some, which is understandable for a college kid. In college you played 1-2 times a weekend, while in the ECHL you can play 3-4 times per week. That had to be a physical shock. This season he’ll probably be in the AHL with the Bears where he’s already posted a .924sv% in three games. He’ll mainly be the backup to Hunter Shephard but should still get a good amount of starts.
Potential: I’m a huge fan of Stevenson. He’s big but is incredibly quick and athletic. I’d bet he at least becomes a backup but with his ability he certainly has the ability to be a starter and a very good one at that. He reminds me a lot of Thatcher Demko who might have had a recent down year, but overall has been a really solid goalie in the NHL.
14) Pierrick Dube, RW
5’9”, 172lbs
22yo, 1/7/2001
Update: Dube was kind of an out of left field signing by the Caps, but a very good one. He played very well last season in the ECHL putting up 14 points (including nine goals) in nine games. And when he was with the AHL he produced well in the middle six posting 32 points (16 goals) in 44 games. It will be interesting to see where he slots on a stacked Bears team but it won’t be long before he’s fighting for a NHL spot either.
Potential: It’s funny, if you compare Dube’s career and play style with Jonathan Marchessault, it’s nearly identical. Between size, weight, speed, shooting ability, tenacity, skill, leagues they played in, both being undrafted, points etc. they are nearly identical. I’m not saying Dube is the next Conn Smythe winner like Marchessault was this past summer, but Jonathan is a good player to mimic. If the Caps can get a top six winger for free like Marchessault was it would be a hell of an add. Heck, even if he turns into a good scoring middle six winger it will be a huge win.
13) Cameron Allen, RHD
6’0”, 194lbs
18yo, 1/7/2005
Update: At this point you probably know the story behind Allen: a once potential first round pick had a tough year mentally that affected his game poorly, which led to him falling to the Caps in the fifth round. The good news, outside some mental hurdles, Allen looked like a legit prospect. Unfortunately, it was recently announced that Allen will be out until at least January due to a shoulder surgery, so any attempt of having a bounce back season has been cut short.
Potential: Besides those mental issues that Allen admitted affected his game poorly, he’s a very good defensemen. He reminds me a lot of Matt Niskanen. Matt was a guy you could throw out against the other teams top players and limit chances against, but he also had some offensive abilities that came in handy. Allen is overall good to great at everything, maybe not elite, but he has very few, if any, weaknesses. If he can come back healthy and hurdle those mental issues, he could end up being an absolute steal and turn into a very helpful all round top four defensemen.
12) Martin Fehervary, LHD
6’2”, 203lbs
23yo, 10/6/1999
Update: I know what people are thinking: how could a young kid already in the NHL be ranked outside the top 10 on this list? But remember this list is solely based on potential and for how good Fehervary is, he’s going to max out as a very good defensive defensemen, which limits his overall potential for guys that can be more offensive. I’m a fan of Marty and think this upcoming season will be his best yet, finally taking form as a strong defender in the league.
Potential: Like I said, I believe Fehervary’s potential, that he should hit soon, is a top three defensive defenseman with speed and physicality. He reminds me a whole lot of Adam Pelech. Pelech isn’t flashy by any means but he skates very well, dishes out hard hits, and can shut down the other teams top players. If Marty can form into a player like that then the Caps will be really happy.
11) Alexander Alexeyev, LHD
6’4”, 214lbs
23yo, 11/15/1999
Update: I imagine this player placement is also a head scratcher to many, but like Fehervary, it’s all about potential. Alexeyev just had his first year in the NHL and though it got off to a rough start, he finished extremely well (you can read about that here). It’s a shame the Caps felt like they had to sign Joel Edmundson because otherwise the number six spot would be Alexeyev’s to lose, which he will now have to fight for. Hopefully he wins that battle because an Alexeyev-TvR third pairing would be dynamite.
Potential: Alexeyev is a big defender that isn’t elite on either side of the puck but is strong at both ends of the ice. He can play that defensive role for you but also has the ability to shoot up the ice to make the slick offensive pass for a goal or use his bomb of a shot from the point. He reminds me a lot of Mattias Ekholm in that regard. Ekholm was always so underrated but was so reliable. I think Alexeyev has that same potential.
Stay tuned for #10-6, coming up Monday!