The Washington Capitals are set to get their 2025 Development Camp underway at MedStar Capitals Iceplex on Tuesday. On Monday, the team announced the list of 26 skaters and five goaltenders who will be in attendance starting July 1.
General manager Chris Patrick spoke to reporters following the conclusion of the 2025 NHL Draft on Saturday, revealing which prospects the team will be keeping a close eye on at the camp.
“Well, obviously [Cole] Hutson will be interesting to see,” Patrick said.
Hutson, 19, was selected in the second round of the 2024 draft (43rd overall) and spent last season as one of Boston University’s top scorers (48 points – 14g, 34a), helping lead the program to its 12th NCAA National Championship appearance.
The talented defenseman also posted a tournament-high 11 points (3g, 8a) in seven games for Team USA at the 2025 World Juniors.
After his ultra-successful season, Hutson quickly decided to return for his sophomore year at BU. However, Patrick thinks he could follow in his Beanpot rival Ryan Leonard’s footsteps, expeditiously joining the Capitals’ roster by the end of the 2025-26 regular season.
“Like Leonard last year, [he] had a great first college season. Now [Hutson’s] going into the second season, so we’ll see where he is and if he has interest in coming out afterwards,” Patrick said. “So I think that whole kind of dance will start now. So it’ll be cool to see where he is.”
Despite having some serious talent from previous drafts on the cusp of being NHL-ready this year, Patrick emphasized the camp is more for getting newer rookies situated with the franchise.
“In our development camp, I don’t know if you really want to be evaluating players,” he explained. “Like you guys have seen it, it’s more orientation camp than anything. So for me, it’ll actually be most interesting to see the guys we just drafted and see where they are.”
Capitals first-round pick Lynden Lakovic (27th overall) and second-round selection Milton Gastrin (37th overall) are high on Patrick’s list.
“I got to sit in on the interview with Gastrin at the combine, and he was a really impressive kid, really mature,” he said. “So I’m excited to see him on the ice and obviously, you know, Lakovic and all the other picks, it’ll be cool to see.”
Gastrin, an 18-year-old centerman from Swedish team MoDo Hockey, recorded 42 points (18g, 24a) in 40 games in the J20 junior league. Lakovic, 18, tallied 58 points (27g, 31a) in 47 games for the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors.
Patrick also revealed who will be running the development camp this year, without naming names, and teased a surprise guest coach.
“It’ll be Hershey coaches, and we’ll have a couple guest coaches too helping out,” he said. “One will be really interesting for you guys, I think.”
The Bears are currently without a head coach after Todd Nelson departed for the Pittsburgh Penguins on June 20. Assistant coaches Patrick Wellar and Nick Bootland were named potential candidates for the job and are likely to be at the camp.
