Andrew Cristall is in a tough spot as a prospect in the Washington Capitals organization.
Due to CHL transfer agreement rules, the 19-year-old winger is too young to graduate to the American Hockey League next season despite spending time with the Hershey Bears as a black ace in May. He also doesn’t have much left to accomplish in Canadian major junior as he has cemented himself as one of the CHL’s top players for the past two years.
The conundrum leaves Cristall with two possible destinations this fall: Washington after making the Capitals’ NHL roster or Kelowna for another year with the WHL’s Rockets. The 2023 second-round draft selection would need a shockingly good Training Camp to start the season in the NHL, but, following an impressive summer of training back home in British Columbia, he doesn’t think it’s out of the question.
“The goal is obviously to make the [Capitals],” Cristall said Saturday. “I think coming into camp, you want to put your best foot forward and try to do your best. I have a lofty goal. Obviously, it’s going to be hard to do that, but that’s what I’m trying to do.”
Cristall is one of 20 players on the ice at this year’s Rookie Camp in Annapolis, Maryland, and will be one of the few who sticks around for an extended look during NHL preseason later this month. The prospect forward prepared for his second post-draft year in his home province, skating regularly with a slew of elite NHL talent in Vancouver
“There was a bunch of guys, like Connor [Bedard], Macklin Celebrini, Kent Johnson, Mat Barzal was skating with us a bunch,” Cristall said. “[Ryan] Nugent-Hopkins came at the end of the summer – a lot of NHL and AHL guys, so it was really good.
“It helps a lot, and it’s even better because they’re such good people and really nice, and they don’t mind to share their insight and kind of help me out, so it helps a lot.”
Cristall has long dealt with talk about needing to improve his skating ability to become a viable NHL forward eventually, and he says he keyed in on that area of his game for a second straight summer. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound teenager also went to lengths to add needed size and strength to look more like a player ready for professional hockey.
“[I worked on] all the skills and stuff and minor details as well, but mostly skating and my strength,” Cristall said. “Kind of getting a little bit more explosive and putting on some more weight for some corner battles and stick battles and things like that.”
Cristall has previously credited renowned Vancouver power skating coach Barb Aidelbaum with helping him become quicker on the ice. The results were noticeable last season as Cristall used his new extra step to help him set new WHL career highs in goals (40), assists (71), and points (111), notching two hat tricks and posting a milestone seven-point game.
The prospect forward finished fifth in WHL scoring and tied for 13th in goals, averaging 1.79 points per game during his age-18 season. His successful year came after his first appearance with the Capitals at a Rookie Camp and Training Camp. He even tallied an assist in his NHL preseason debut.
“I think [my biggest area of improvement is] kind of a mix of speed, strength, and just my details around the game,” Cristall said. “I think I’m a lot smarter with the puck, know where to put the puck, and how to get it back when I don’t have it.”
Washington’s development staff got their first hands-on look with Cristall last year and advised him on how he should train moving forward. The process was rewarding for the talented playmaker, and the prior experience is helping him get even more from his second go-around with the club.
“I’m getting a lot,” Cristall said. “Obviously, it’s really good skates, really high competitiveness, and high intensity to get ready for main camp. You see the staff out there, and they’re all incredible, so much insight and information, and they know the game so well.
“Training Camp is obviously a different notch up and a little bit better, but we’re all working really hard out here. We all want to earn a spot to get to main camp. So, it’s really good to get some skates in before.”
Besides fighting to make his NHL debut much earlier than expected, Cristall also wants to represent his country at the 2025 U20 World Junior Championship. His desire comes after he was snubbed from Team Canada last season and watched his peers crash out in the quarterfinals to Czechia from home.
“Yeah, it would mean a lot, obviously,” Cristall said. “Like to be able to do that, especially on home ice in Ottawa, that would be pretty special. So definitely something I want to do.”
Cristall could kill two birds with one stone if he makes the Capitals’ decision hard later in the fall.
