A Look at the Washington Capitals Potential First Round Pick in 2024 NHL Entry Draft – NoVa Caps

Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images

The 2024 Stanley Cup has been awarded and the NHL Draft is quickly approaching. The first round of the NHL Draft will take place on Friday, June 28 at The Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, with rounds 2-7 taking place the following day. The Washington Capitals will pick seventeen^e generally, after all non-playoff teams, but before all other playoff teams.

The question is which player would the Capitals likely pick in the first round? This season, the Capitals are likely targeting a defenseman at that point, as they have selected a forward in the first round in four of the previous five drafts, with Ryan Leonard selected in 2023 with pick #8, Ivan Miroshnichenko with pick #20 in 2022, Hendrix Lapierre in 2020 with pick #22, and Connor McMichael in 2019 with pick #25.

Sure, they had defensemen selected in later rounds, including Ryan Chesley in 2022 and Vincent Iorio in 2021 (a year with no first-round picks). However, with John Carlson turning 35 in January and the team’s other two leading right-handed defensemen turning 33 at the start of next season, there is a clear need for blue-chip defensemen, especially on the right side.

This article examines potential players available in the 17th draft, with a particular focus on defenders as they are expected to be the Capitals’ main priority. It will highlight defensemen ranked between 11th and 20th, citing rankings from various media sources, including the NHL site, The Athletic and The Hockey News. Furthermore, it will consider other possible choices if the Capitals opt for the best player available regardless of position.

Below are the defensemen projected to be drafted between #11 and #20, according to major hockey media sources. There are disagreements between the different references.

Adam Jiricek

Photo: Martin Voltr (hokej.cz)

Height: 6-2 Weight: 176
Date of birth: June 28, 2006
To shoot: Right
Nationality: Czech
Team 2023-24: HC Plzeň (Czech Republic)

Preliminary Prospect Rank

Elite prospects: #28
The Athletic (Pronman): #16
The athletic (cyclist): # 17
NHL (Kimelman): #13
NHL (Morreale): No. 22
The hockey news: #20
Hockey Writers: #17

Remark: According to the Elite Prospects scouting report, he has the “vision to identify the right play at pace and even the ability to deceive and manipulate opponents from the blue line to create those openings himself.” His 2023-2024 season had ended prematurely due to an injury during the World Junior Championships.

Zayne Parekh

Photo: Zachary Clingenpeel (MLive)

Height: 6-0 Weight:181
Date of birth: February 15, 2006
To shoot: Right
Nationality: Canadian
Team 2023-24: Saginaw (OHL)

Preliminary Prospect Rank

Elite prospects: #5
The Athletic (Pronman): #13
The Athletic (Cyclist): #7
NHL (Kimelman): #8
NHL (Morreale): #8
The hockey news: #8
Hockey Writers: #7

Remark: An offensive defenseman who scored 33 goals and recorded 96 points in his pre-draft season. There are questions about his defense and whether his play will translate to the NHL. Elite Prospects’ scouting report reads: “He doesn’t wait for holes to open in defensive coverage to make a play; he bends opponents to his will and creates those openings for himself.” Considering most pre-draft rankings have him above 10th, he likely won’t fall to the Capitals.

Anton Silayev

Photo: Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod

Height: 6-7 Weight: 205
Date of birth: April 11, 2006
To shoot: Left
Nationality: Russian
Team 2023-24: Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)

Prospect rank before the draft

Elite Prospects: #12
The Athletic (Pronman): #3
The athletic (cyclist): #3
NHL (Kimelman): #3
NHL (Morreale): #4
The hockey news: #4
Hockey Writers: #4

Remark: According to the Elite Prospects scouting report, he is “a gigantic defenseman with the skating ability to cover any part of the ice in the blink of an eye.” Scouts consider him a defensive back with speed. He’s generally at the top of the draft and probably won’t end up in the Capitals.

Stian Solberg

Photo: NHL

Height: 6-2 Weight: 201
Date of birth: December 29, 2005
Shoots: Left
Nationality: Norwegian
Team 2023-24: Vålerenga (Norway)

Pre-draft prospect rank

Elite Outlook: #20
The Athletic (Pronman): #14
The Athletic (Cyclist): #16
NHL (Kimelman): #13
NHL (Morreale): No. 19
The hockey news: #55
Hockey Writers: #14

Remark: He is considered a tough, defensive back with a mean streak. He was better in the second half of the season. His stock has risen after a stellar playoff performance with Valerenga, followed by his performance at the IIHF World Championships.

Carter Yakemchuk

Photo: The Athletics

Height: 6-3 Weight: 195
Date of birth: September 29, 2005
To shoot: Right
Nationality: Canadian
Team 2023-24: Calgary (WHL)

Rank of preliminary prospect

Elite Prospects: #17
The Athletic (Pronman): #8
The Athletic (Cyclist): #11
NHL (Kimelman): #11
NHL (Morreale): #12
The hockey news: #14
Hockey Writers: #11

Remark: Yakemchuk had a solid offensive season for the Calgary Hitmen in 2023-24, scoring 31 goals and adding 41 assists for 71 total points, good for fifth in the Canadian Hockey League for points. Elite Prospects’ scouting report notes that he “manipulates opponents, makes plays with perfect timing and creates looks for his teammates with the threat of his shot at times.”

Other prospects

While the Capitals will likely focus on selecting a defenseman in the first round, the best player available could play another position. Below is a list of forwards who may be available between draft slots 11-20.

Andrew Basha (LW)
Cole Beaudoin (C)
Sacha Boisvert (C)
Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (F)
Berkly Catton (C)
Igor Chernyshev (LW)
Trevor Connelly (LW)
Cole Eiserman (LW)
Liam Greentree (RW)
Michael Hage (C)
Konsta Helenius (C/RW)
Jett Luchanko (C)

Related reading
The Washington Capitals Organizational Depth Chart heading into the 2024 offseason

By Diane Doyle