Washington Capitals 2016 NHL Draft Rankings Roundup

Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images 

Welcome to the 2016 NHL Entry Draft Rankings Roundup. We have compiled ten of the most reliable draft expert rankings and included them in one place so that Capitals fans have a one-stop shop for a glimpse into what prospects the experts think will be available for the Capitals to take in the First Round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft on June 24, 2016 at First Niagara Center in Buffalo, NY.

The Washington Capitals own the following picks in the 2016 draft:

• Round 1: 26^th Overall
• Round 4: 117^th Overall
• Round 5: 145^th Overall
• Round 5: 147^th Overall
• Round 6: 177^th Overall
• Round 7: 207^th Overall

Because the Capitals pick 26th in the First Round, we decided to focus the snapshots of the rankings around that pick. We included the players ranked 22 through 30 in each expert’s list to give an idea of which players actually have a good chance to be available when the Caps pick. Without further ado, here is the comprehensive compilation:

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A total of 35 different prospects are included in these ten lists covering rankings 22-30. Fourteen of them appear on only one list. These are the guys that are usually ranked much higher (Logan Brown) or much lower (Adam Mascherin).

Only 14 prospects appeared on more than two lists. Based off the average ranking of those 14 prospects on three or more lists, the five players most likely to be picked by the Caps (average within 1.5 spots of 26) are Rasmus Asplund, Vitali Abramov, Alex DeBrincat, Pascal Laberge and Kale Clague.

• Rasmus Asplund – C, Farjestad, SHL – After a concussion sidelined William Nylander in the World Junior Championships this past winter, Asplund really began to shine. Asplund is not going to wow you with any of his attributes including his size, but his hockey sense and vision are what separate him from others. As you come to expect from Swedish centermen, he is already quite developed on the defensive side of the rink. He appeared on six lists with an average rank of 24.7.
• Vitali Abramov – RW, Gatineau Olympiques, QMJHL – Abramov can flat out stick handle. He is also very quick, which will be important for him at the next level due to his size. At times he has looked like Evgeny Kuznetsov to me with his ability to change speeds to create separation only much shorter. Great offensive upside if he can handle the bigger players. He appeared on four lists with an average rank of 24.8.
• Alex DeBrincat – RW, Erie Otters, OHL – Many think DeBrincat has top-ten level skill, and he very well may, but at 5’7″ he is going to slide down some draft boards. The Capitals can certainly do worse than him at the spot, and if his size does not scare you, he is a no-brainer. Reminds me of Max Domi with his small-man tenacity only DeBrincat is smaller. He appeared on seven lists with an average rank of 24.9.
• Pascal Laberge – C/RW, Victoriaville Tigres, QMJHL – Laberge started to really be talked about as a first round talent following an impressive showing at the CHL Top Prospects Game. At 6’1″ he has solid size and uses it well. While he doesn’t use his shot enough, as he defers to being a playmaker, his shot is quite lethal. He loves to work the puck along the boards and does not shy away from going in hard on the forecheck. He appeared on nine lists with an average rank of 27.3.
• Kale Clague – D, Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL – Clague is a classic puck moving defenseman. A bit undersized but he skates really well. He has a very good first pass out of the zone and loves to join the rush. He has been described continuously as very smooth with the puck. His shot should improve as he adds muscle to his frame, but he already has a knack for getting it through. He is not usually out of position in his end, but he will need to add muscle to avoid being pushed off the puck in the corners. He appeared on three lists with an average rank of 27.5.

Stay tuned to RMNB for more draft coverage including a full mock draft rundown after the majority of mocks are released following the Stanley Cup, write-ups on possible selections and our predictions. In the meantime, here is a sneak peak of the NHL Mock Draft Rundown with the mocks already released:

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What do you think the Caps should do with their first pick?