The Washington Capitals will be entering Friday's NHL Entry Draft in Philadelphia with a few more questions than at last years draft. The organization is going through yet another set of changes this year with new Head Coach Barry Trotz, but new GM Brian MacLellan will have to make a name for himself if not to get out from under the shadow of former GM George McPhee, but to ease the anxiety of Caps fans who aren't too sure about the new "Captain of the Ship".
For at least 5 years now, the Caps have been trying to keep up with the elite teams of the league, and while the Caps do have the firepower up front to compete, their back end is something of a train wreck.
It's no secret about what the Capitals are looking for - the secret is how they will fulfill the needs of the team.
IF the Capitals hold on to their #13 pick, the best candidates on defense, if they're available, would be:
1). Haydn Fleury - D - Red Deer Rebels, WHL: He's big, he's strong and he could be the future of the Caps, if they select him of course. He's a good skater and can offense if needed. At 6'2", 202lbs, he has a lot of room to grow.
2). Julius Honka - D - Swift Current, WHL: He has an offensive flair, which the Capitals aren't really looking for in a 'D' right now, but he has the potential to be in a top-two pairing and could be a nice replacement for Mike Green if he doesn't get his game back this season. He's small at 5'7", 180lbs, but he's fast and smart.
3). Anthony DeAngelo - D - Sarnia Sting, OHL: He's a little bigger than Honka at 5'10", but has the same puck skills and decision making. He's an offensive defenseman who can lead the rush, but has been working with former Flyer Andy Delmore on his all-around game. He's also a Jersey native like John Carlson.
The other pressing need for the Caps is on the left side. They traded away their best prospect at the time, Filip Forsberg, and luckily he hasn't turned out the way Nashville had hoped. In the pipeline is Andre Burakovsky and Riley Barber, and they should hopefully make an appearance in the next couple of years.
IF the Caps were to go this route, the best left-wingers available are:
1). Brendan Perlini - LW - Niagra Ice Dogs, OHL: At 6'2", 205lbs Perlini is a rig in the making. He can skate, shoot and has great hands. If the Caps want toughness up front for the future, he's the guy.
2). Kevin Fiala - LW - HV-71 JR, Sweden: He may not be the best two-way player available, but he has an offensive gift that impressed scouts. He's not going to blow you away with speed either, but he's creative and smart. At 5'9", 178lbs, he has plenty of room to grow and plenty of time to find an all-around game.
3). Jake Virtanen - LW - Calgary Hitmen, WHL: There might be more talented players available who can score, but Virtanen is one of the most complete players in the draft. He has an all-around game that coaches love, and he can still contribute offensively. The Caps need more guys like this. At 6'0', 208lbs, he can skate and hit and create.
The Capitals need to address their lineup now, and the only way to do that is to sign some solid free agents or go the trade route. The 'Ovechkin-era' is slowly descending and management knows they must give the team the support it needs to compete.
More on that later...
Who do you guys want the Caps to draft? What do the Caps need to do with their current crop of prospects?
Follow me on Twitter: @_Mellin_