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.