There are several prospects to watch ahead of the upcoming season
As the Washington Capitals celebrate 50 seasons there's a lot to look forward to in the past, present and future. Part of the future is of course the prospect pool. Here are the top prospects to watch.
Garin Bjorklund
He missed some of the beginning to undergo major back surgery and recovery so Garin Bjorklund has something to prove this season no pun intended after missing his rookie season. He just completed his first pro season of hockey with the ECHL's South Carolina Stingrays.
The six foot two, 174 pound goalie went 14-11-1 with a 3.33 goals against average and a .882 save percentage. He was taken in the sixth round in the 2020 NHL entry draft and inked an entry level deal with the Caps in 2022. He would close out the season with a call up to the AHL's Hershey Bears who went on to capture the Calder Cup.
Previously he spent four seasons with the Medince Hat Tigers with 40 wins and three shutouts in the juniors.
He will be an intersting watch this upcoming training camp to see what level he makes it up upon. Rookie Camp comes before training camp so be on the look out for him and others that we'll mention.
Andrew Cristall
Cami Kepke of chl.ca writes this about the prospect:
""For a second straight season, sniper Andrew Cristall led the Kelowna Rockets in scoring with a monster 40 goal, 71 assist campaign, tallying 111 points and a +23 rating in 62 games. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound winger finished fifth in the league in points and tied for fourth in assists. Cristall recorded the second-longest point streak in the WHL, racking up 17 goals and 28 assists for 45 points in 23 consecutive games stretching from November to January.""
- Cami Kepke/chl.ca
Kepke also adds that the 19 year old had a pair of hat tricks and a career-high seven-point night (two goals, five assists) and tied with Tij Iginla with 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) to lead the Rockets in preseason scoring. Cristall, a 2023 second-round pick of the Capitals, was also named a WHL B.C. Division Second-Team All-Star and got an invite to Hockey Canada's National Junior Team Summer Showcase which is the first step toward representing his country in the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship. Cristall signed an entry level deal prior to the start of the 2023-24 season.
Zac Funk
Zac Funk was a nominee for the WHL Player of the Year and helped launch the Prince George Cougars to the team's best season since moving to the Northern Capital in 1994. Listed as six foot and 210 pounds, Funk led the WHL and the whole WHL with 67 goals and 56 assists for 123 points in 68 games, which placed him second in the league points race.
Additionally, Funk led all skaters with 31 power play goals and set a league high with eight hat tricks while also tying for third in game-winning tallies. The Caps signed him as an undrafted free agent in March.
Funk finished the regular season as WHL B.C. Division First Team All Star with a 14 game point streak with 16 goals and 17 assists, earning him a spot on the CHL First All Star squad.
The 20 year old added eight goals and 10 assists for 18 points in 15 playoff games with Prince George, leading them to the WHL Western Conference Championship. What can't Zac Funk do is the real question as we approach rookie camp and then training camp soon thereafter and we certainly can't wait till it all goes down.
Ryan Hofer
Ryan Hofer lifted the Calder Cup in jus this fist year of pro hockey. You can't say much more about a prospect in the system getting experience than that. In 40 regular season games with the Herhsey Bears he recorded four goals and four assists for eight points along with a plus five rating.
He stands at six foot three and 192 pounds and had his firrst goal with the Bears in a 5-4 win over the Bridgeport Islanders in November. He was selected by the Caps in the sixth round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and was signed to an entry level deal the next year.
Hofer played for four seasons in the WHL with the Everett Silvertips before being dished to the Kamloops Blazers in a blockbuster trade ahead of the Memorial Cup in his final year of Juniors.
In his graduating year he racked up 40 goals and 28 assists for 68 points and a +11 rating in 66 games additionally averaging more than a point per game in the 2023 WHL playoffs and netteted two goals and three assists in the Memorial Cup.
It is doubtful he will make the team out of training camp but even so he will be fun to watch in Hershey.
Brett Hyland
Brett Hyland was the captain of the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL and is set to make his professional debut after signing a one year deal with the Hershey Bears. The 21 year old is coming off of a career year from Brandon as he led the team with 32 goals and 59 points. His 27 assists ranked fourth and his four game winning goals were good for second on the teth team.
Listed as six foot foot and 914 pounds the forward notched his first WHL hat trick in a victory over Regina in December and went on a seven game point streak with seven goals and four assists that same month.
The Edmonton product added a goal and four assists in four playoff games before joining the Bears on an amateaur tryout agreement and while he didn't see action in the AHL he did gain experience by practcing with the pros.
