Dylan Strome is keeping his eye on the young talent coming up through the Capitals’ organization.
Strome was mic’d up at the Capitals Training Camp skate on Friday, and beyond chirps he threw at goaltender Logan Thompson and a cameraman to make sure he filmed one of his goals, the veteran centerman also made a few observations about two particular Caps prospects: Andrew Cristall and Lynden Lakovic.
“He can play,” Strome said of Cristall to one of the coaches. “Anyone that gets 160 points in a season usually got some good offensive instincts somewhere in there.”
Cristall played with Strome and Anthony Beauvillier on the top line of Group A during Friday’s practice. The 20-year-old winger filled in on the trio for the injured Alex Ovechkin, who has yet to complete a full training camp skate due to a lower-body ailment.
Strome, famously the main stats nerd on the Capitals’ roster, isn’t quite accurate about how many points Cristall racked up in the WHL last season. During the regular season, the 2023 second-round pick recorded 132 points (48g, 84a) in 57 games split between the Kelowna Rockets and Spokane Chiefs.
Cristall’s point total also climbs past the 170 mark if you factor in his postseason, as he posted 41 points (21g, 20a) in 19 playoff games for the Chiefs. Spokane made it to the WHL championship series but fell in five games to Gavin McKenna’s Medicine Hat Tigers.
“What a day,” Strome later said to Cristall. “We’re buzzing today.”
Cristall, who compared his own stats nerdom to Strome’s this past July, is looking to secure one of the final spots on the Capitals’ roster this fall after he was the last cut of training camp last year. He could face some surprising competition from a player two years his junior in Lakovic.
Lakovic is one of the early standouts at this fall’s camp despite the experience being his first-ever at the pro level. The 18-year-old, 2025 first-round draft pick impressed head coach Spencer Carbery enough to receive his NHL preseason debut against the Boston Bruins on Sunday evening.
“I like that Lakovic guy,” Strome said.
“Yeah, he’s really good as well,” an off-screen Capitals staff member replied. “They can all skate now, and they’re six-foot-four.”
“I know,” Strome answered.
Lakovic, who recorded 58 points (27g, 31a) in 47 games for the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors last season, skated 13:53 of ice time against the Bruins, playing on a line with fellow prospect Eriks Mateiko and AHL veteran Spencer Smallman. He had a half-breakaway chance but fired the puck wide of Bruins netminder Simon Zajicek in the third period.
Strome is signed with the Capitals through the 2027-28 campaign, so he’ll want to get well acquainted with the youth in the organization that will join him in the coming seasons. Cristall is a candidate to do so as early as this year, while Lakovic will either need to make the Capitals out of camp or play another full junior season with the Warriors.
