There will likely be more unexpected movement and decisions both before and during Friday’s first round, but for the Capitals, one big shake-up has already happened.
Read more Ferrari’s Hamilton faces Mercedes in Austria hoping to turn F1 win into a title shot
When Ross Mahoney met with the media at the beginning of the week, much of the conversation centered around the Washington Capitals’ two first-round picks, No. 16 and No. 18, in the 2026 NHL draft.
Two days later, the Capitals traded the No. 16 pick to St. Louis as part of the package to acquire winger Jordan Kyrou. Mahoney, who has been Washington’s assistant general manager in charge of the draft for more than a decade, is no stranger to how quickly plans can change at this time of year.
“I’m going in there thinking we’re picking 16 [and] 18, unless something does happen and we can move up or move back, depending on who’s still on the board,” Mahoney said. “Honestly, it’s part of the fun of it, the strategy of it. You kind of go through the hunt all year of trying to find good players before the draft, and then you have the strategy of the draft. Really enjoy both parts to it, and every draft seems to be unique.
“There’s always something that happens that’s unexpected in the draft, so you have to be ready for it.”
There will likely be more unexpected movement and decisions both before and during Friday’s first round, but for the Capitals, one big shake-up has already happened. With two picks, Mahoney was hoping Washington would be able to target both a center and a bigger defenseman; Cole Hutson looks poised to be a star for the Capitals, but they’d like to add someone larger than Hutson’s 5-foot-11 frame, if they could.
But the first round of this year’s draft isn’t particularly deep on talent, as compared to previous years, and it’s also heavy on wingers in the middle tiers of the pool. Washington has drafted a winger with its last four first-round picks — Ivan Miroshnichenko in 2022, Ryan Leonard in 2023, Terik Parascak in 2024 and Lynden Lakovic in 2025 — and hasn’t drafted a defenseman in the first round since Alex Alexeyev in 2018.
With just the one pick available now, the Capitals will likely take a classic best-player-available approach to their selection.
Read more Third consecutive bullpen collapse leaves Nationals reeling and back at .500
“We’ve always tried to take the best player available in the draft. If we have too many good assets in one position, I think that’s actually a good thing, as far as the general manager having some strengths that other teams might want,” Mahoney said. “If a center was available, I think that would help. … We have a lot of wings, and there’s always a need for a defenseman.”
Malte Gustafsson, a 6-4 left-shot defenseman, would fit the bill of a bigger, more traditional blue-liner to pair with an offensive dynamo like Hutson, but he’s expected to be off the board by the early teens — well before Washington’s remaining pick at No. 18. Ryan Lin is another defenseman in a similar tier, but he’s just 5-11.
One wild-card option on defense is Maksim Sokolovskii, the largest player in the class at 6-8 and a late riser in the rankings. The Athletic’s draft analyst, Scott Wheeler, projected the Philadelphia Flyers to pick Sokolovskii at No. 21 in his latest mock draft, but if the Capitals really want a big defenseman, they could take a swing on the unique Russian 17-year-old.
Swedish center Alexander Command would presumably be high on Washington’s list if he’s available at No. 18, but he’s expected to be off the board just a few picks before the Capitals make their choice.
Wheeler’s mock draft projected Washington to pick left winger Adam Novotny, who grew up in the Czech Republic but went to Canada last fall to play for the Peterborough Petes in the Ontario Hockey League.
This will be the 29th draft Mahoney has worked on the Capitals’ staff, so he’s more than accustomed to sorting through the various options and gaming out who might be available for them. One curveball has already been thrown at him this week, and he’s prepared for any others that will arise Friday and Saturday.
“I get surprised every year where all of a sudden it’s like, ‘Oh wow, so-and-so is still there and we have a chance to get him,’” Mahoney said. “It’s going to be fun.”
Read more U.S. completes World Cup group stage. Now comes the hard part.
