LAS VEGAS — The Washington Capitals touched down in Las Vegas with the intention of being aggressive and making moves. They didn't disappoint.
Washington was active on the trade front, acquiring Andrew Mangiapane and Logan Thompson while shipping Beck Malenstyn to the Buffalo Sabres in order to move up in the draft.
There, at the Sphere, the Capitals made eight strong picks to wrap up what turned out to be a solid weekend. General manager Brian MacLellan and his staff are staying in Vegas for the start of free agency to continue their offseason work.
Before getting into free agency though, here's a look back at the draft and all the moves the team made.
Washington Capitals Draft Picks
Terik Parascak: First round, 17th overall
It was a bit surprising to see Parascak taken so early, as he was projected to go late in the first round or even early in the second round. However, the potential that the Capitals see in the winger made him too good to pass up.
Parascak is coming off a record-setting rookie season with the WHL's Prince George Cougars, where he put up 43 goals and 62 assists for 105 points in just 68 games. At just 17, he was among the league's top performers, getting to the right spots and making impressive plays while producing at a pace of nearly two points per game.
Of course, he's just one year removed from prep hockey, and there's still work to be done, but if he can maintain consistency, this is a sneaky good selection that'll pay off big time in the long run.
Related: The Capitals Made An Interesting Call & Drafted Parascak Earlier Than Expected. He's Eager To Prove Them Right
Cole Hutson: Second Round, 43rd overall
Hutson had been disappointed to hear on Friday that he had fallen out of the first round, but the defenseman was high on the Capitals' radar and ultimately went 43rd as D.C. moved up to take him at that spot.
The high-scoring blueliner plays with finesse, and he has impressive skating ability, a high hockey IQ, a solid shot and quick hands that make him a threat whenever he has the puck. He doesn't shy away from joining the rush and has the potential to quarterback a power play.
Expect him to be a key part of the team's future as he continues his development. He had 63 points in 70 games with the U.S. National Team Development Camp this past season.
Leon Muggli: Second Round, 52nd overall
Washington wasn't just focused on adding offense to the blue line; they wanted a sound defensive defender, too. Enter Leon Muggli.
The Swiss blueliner compares himself to the likes of Gustav Forsling and Josh Morrissey. He has an incredibly high hockey IQ and good awareness, helping him make smart decisions and keep the puck out of harm's way in his own zone.
After that, he has a good first pass out of the zone, skates well and can stay cool and collected under pressure. He's also a proven leader, often captaining Switzerland's younger national teams.
Ilya Protas: Third Round, 75th overall
Back in 2019, the Capitals made a trade with the New Jersey Devils to move up in the third round, allowing them to take Aliaksei Protas. Five years later, they made the same deal with the same team and drafted Aliaksei's younger brother, Ilya.
Protas, like his brother, has a lot of size, coming in at 6-foot-5 and 198 pounds. He's an offense-minded player who's hard to knock off the puck, and he takes good care of the puck and can make things happen thanks to his puck-moving ability and strong hockey sense.
Related: Capitals Move Up In Third Round To Take Ilya Protas, Younger Brother Of Aliaksei
Washington loves the way Aliaksei has developed, so it figures that Ilya will bring that same energy. And it's a smart bet on a massive forward with big upside, as all he needs to do is improve his skating (the Capitals think he's a better skater than Aliaksei was when he was drafted) and continue to build his offensive skillset, and he'll be an impact player.
Eriks Mateiko: Fourth Round, 90th overall
Washington didn't stop with Protas when it came to adding size and chose to bring on Eriks Mateiko at 90. And it's a pick that's expected to pay off.
The 6-foot-5 winger owns a massive frame, but still moves well and takes advantage of the space around him. Mateiko was producing at nearly a point-per-game pace with the QMJHL's Saint John Sea Dogs. He works well under pressure, protects the puck and is a power forward who can play multiple roles.
Expect him to develop into a strong option for the Capitals who can bring a lot of tenacity to the ice.
Nicholas Kempf: Fourth Round, 114th overall
The Capitals also picked up a goaltender in the fourth round, as the goaltending coaches were impressed with what they saw from Nicholas Kempf.
In 37 games for the NTDP U-18 team this past season, he went 23-7 with a 2.99 GAA, .897 save percentage and three shutouts. He also won silver in the 2024 U18 World Championship.
He looks up to Braden Holtby and tries to model his game after the former Washington starter, who ironically, was also taken in the fourth round of his draft.
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Petr Sikora: Sixth Round, 178th overall
After going without a pick in the fifth round, the Capitals turned their attention to the center position, taking Petr Sikora first.
Sikora had 40 points in 30 games with the Czech Jr. League's HC Oceláři Třinec’s U-20 team, along with seven points in four playoff games.
The 18-year-old was ranked 11th among international centers. He's a dangerous player who likes to get in on the forecheck and doesn't shy away from physicality or battles for loose pucks. Add that in with quick hands and his high hockey IQ, and you have a player who can dominate in the offensive zone.
Miroslav Satan Jr.: Seventh Round, 212th overall
Washington didn't originally own a seventh-round pick, but there was one last player the organization wanted, and it's an interesting pick: Miroslav Satan Jr.
Son of the longtime NHLer, Satan impressed with 30 points in 26 games with HC Slovan Bartislava's U20 team last season in the Slovakia junior league.
Satan's biggest asset is his size; the 6-foot-7 pivot is fast for his size and still has to add strength, and he has good offensive instincts, too. He's expected to be a longer-term project for D.C., but the team is more than comfortable with that.
Washington Capitals Trades
Washington acquires Andrew Mangiapane for a 2025 second-round pick
With T.J. Oshie's future up in the air and the team wanting to upgrade the offense, Capitals wanted to target another winger who could put the puck in the net, provide secondary scoring and play on special teams. Enter Andrew Mangiapane, who D.C. acquired at the end of the NHL Awards on Thursday.
Mangiapane caught the eye of the Capitals over the years with his shot and stickhandling ability, and he's also a strong skater who moves the puck well. However, he does struggle at times to maintain consistency, and he's also not the most physical player.
Still, Washington is rolling the dice on the 28-year-old, who has one year left on his contract at $5.8 million, and general manager Brian MacLellan believes he can do a lot for the team.
"A lot of energy, just a really good all-around player," MacLellan said, adding, "I think he's motivated, it's a contract year for him. So I think we'll get a good version of him."
Washington trades Beck Malenstyn for the No. 43 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft
The Capitals also made a difficult decision, parting ways with Beck Malenstyn in order to move up in the draft and take high-scoring blueliner Cole Hutson.
Malenstyn was a strong player for D.C. in his first full year up in the NHL last season, as he led all forwards in hits and defensive zone starts, was first over the boards on the penalty kill and also worked well with Nic Dowd on the powerhouse fourth line.
While the team did not want to trade Malenstyn and also had every intention of re-signing him, the return was too good to turn down for a fourth-line player.
Washington acquires Logan Thompson for picks
The Capitals made one last move on the second day of the draft, taking goaltender Logan Thompson from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for picks. It was a strong move for D.C., as it replaced Darcy Kuemper and also gave Charlie Lindgren a solid goalie partner.
Related: Capitals Hoping Thompson Brings 'Competitive Situation' To Crease; What It Means For Lindgren & D.C.'s Direction In Net
Thompson was an All-Star in 2023 and has one year left on his deal at just $766,667. MacLellan is looking for Thompson to bring a "competitive situation" to the crease and work closely with Lindgren to make up a cheap but effective tandem in net.
This also gives prospects Hunter Shepard and Clay Stevenson more time to develop at the AHL level.
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