The Washington Capitals have a large group of prospects ready to break into the professional ranks of their organization this season.
One of those players is Swiss defender Leon Muggli, whom the Caps selected with a second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. Muggli is participating in his second rookie camp with the Capitals, the third annual being hosted at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
“It’s been great so far,” Muggli said Sunday. “Good work days. Also, yesterday, nice little fun at the Navy camp. So, yeah, it’s been good so far.”
Muggli spent last season in the top Swiss professional league with EV Zug, playing against men for the second-straight year. In 40 games at the top level, the 19-year-old blueliner recorded 11 points (5g, 6a) and 43 penalty minutes.
After his season in his home country was complete, the Capitals assigned Muggli to the AHL’s Hershey Bears. He made his North American professional debut with the Bears on April 12, getting into two of the team’s final regular-season games. His goal this year is to stick with the Bears for the whole campaign under new head coach Derek King.
“I think I go from camp, try my best here, and then see wherever I end up and do my best there,” Muggli said. “I mean, I want to try American hockey, so I try to stay here. I go with that mindset, so we’ll see.”
Muggli will also be eligible to attend his third World Junior Championship for Switzerland, having served as an alternate captain at the 2025 tournament. In nine total under-20 World Juniors games, he has recorded four assists.
“It was an honor representing Washington over in Europe and for Switzerland,” Muggli said. “I mean, you always represent them and the team you play for. So, yeah, it was lots of fun.”
After already playing professionally for two years and getting two games for the Bears last season, Muggli could play his way into becoming one of the Capitals’ first recalls from Hershey if they need reinforcements on defense. Head coach Spencer Carbery gave him his NHL preseason debut last fall, sending him over the boards for 19:18 of ice time against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Muggli’s goal now will be to use his time at this week’s rookie camp with the Capitals’ player development team as a springboard into training camp for a more extended stay this year. The current Caps development staff includes former NHL players Jim Slater, Brooks Orpik, and Olie Kolzig.
“The guys are so experienced,” Muggli said. “For a young guy to come in and get the experience from them, get tips from them, I mean, it’s huge for development.”
The Capitals signed Muggli to a three-year, entry-level contract after he attended his first development camp in DC. The 2025-26 campaign will be the first official year of that deal, as Muggli’s contract was slide-eligible last season.
