The Capitals traded D Steve Eminger and the 84th pick (3rd round) for Philadelphia's 1st round pick. With the pick they selected defensemen John Carlson. Carlson is a big guy with good skating ability but will be a project.
The Caps traded up with the New Jersey Devils and with the 21st pick in the 2008 Draft the Caps selected Anton Gustofsson. The Caps traded the 23rd pick and the 54th pick in order to secure the son of former Caps great Bengt Gustofsson. The 6'-2", 194 pound center played 23 games with the Frolunda junior team scoring 10 goals, 13 assists and earning 43 penalty minutes. The scouting report on Anton is that he is a good two-way center with excellent play-making ability. I'm sensing a theme in Washington; Russian wings and Swedish centers, all with good size. The big question - Will he wear #16?
Let’s take a look at the upcoming draft and see who the Capitals will go after with their 1st round pick. The Caps have the 23rd overall pick and should be looking to the best possible player rather than a specific position. In the most recent draft, only four European prospects were taken in the first round. Going on that basis we can look at a range of players the Caps may be looking to select.
First is Tyler Cuma, a 6’-2”, 180-pound, defensemen for Toronto, Ontario. Cuma played for the Ottawa 67’s in the Ontario Hockey League and was born January 19, 1990. In 59 games this past season he scored 32 points and took 69 minutes in penalties. He’s an offensive defensemen with good defensive sense and loves to get up in the rush.
Jamie Arniel is a center from Kingston, Ontario. He was born November 16, 1989 and played last season with the Sarnia Sting in the OHL. His uncle was a former NHL player and he represented Team Canada at the 2007 Under-18 World Championships in Finland. He is known as an adept face-off man, a bit of a sniper, and a gritty 2-way forward.
Nicolas Deschamps is a 6’-0” center who was selected the QMJHL’s Best Defensive Player and to the All-Rookie Team. He scored 24 goals and 67 points in 70 games with Chicoutimi in the Q. He’s from Lasalle, Quebec and is a good skater and hard worker who surprised a lot people this season.
Greg Nemisz is another center who brings a little size with him. He’s 6’-3” and 197 pounds. He scored 34 goals and 33 assists in 68 games with Windsor of the OHL. He was a member of Team Canada at the 2008 Under-18 IIHF Worlds. The Oshawa native has one of the best nicknames - “Nemo.” He plays on the power play as well as the penalty kill and is looked at as a power forward type. He has good hands but needs to learn to use his size to his advantage.
From Vetlanda, Sweden is Mattias Tedenby. He’s a 5’-10” left wing who played 23 games for HV 71 of the Swedish Elite League. He was a member of Sweden’s Under-18 World Championship team. Plays fearlessly and has been compared to Saku Koivu.
Lastly is Anton Gustafsson, a reach pick but he is the son of former Caps great and current Team Sweden Head Coach Bengt. He scored 32 points in 33 games with his Swedish Junior team Frolunda. Sports a big body at 6’-2” and 194 pounds and plays center like his dad. He is considered a playmaker with strong puckhandling skills and excellent vision.
A lot can happen on draft day but if the Caps hold on to the 23rd pick on Friday look for one of these players to be wearing Capitals red, white and blue in the near future.
