One of the most intriguing prospects in the Washington Capitals’ organization was traded on Wednesday.
In a huge WHL deal, Andrew Cristall was dealt by the Kelowna Rockets to the Spokane Chiefs for 2007-born forward Hayden Paupanekis, a 2025 first-round pick, a 2025 third-round pick, a 2026 second-round pick, a 2025 sixth-round pick, and a first-round pick in 2027.
The Chiefs are 26-13-0 and sit third in the Western Conference this season.
“We are very excited to add Andrew to our organization,” Chiefs’ general Matt Bardsley said in a release. “He is a dynamic forward who is a threat to score or create offense every time he is on the ice. His experience in the league along with 20 games of playoff experience will be a welcomed addition to our team. When speaking with the Washington Capitals, they spoke highly of Andrew and the progression in his overall game. We would like to welcome Andrew and his family to the Chiefs organization.”
Since being returned to the WHL by the Washington Capitals after Training Camp, Cristall has arguably been the WHL’s best player. The Capitals’ second round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft has scored 26 goals and recorded 34 assists in 28 games, good for 2.16 points-per-game (a league-high). His 60 points overall puts him second in the WHL.
In 219 career games with the Kelowna Rockets, Cristall scored 135 goals (sixth in their franchise history), 205 assists (2nd in franchise history) and 340 points (second), trailing only Brett McLean in the latter two statistics. Cristall has the highest point-per-game average (1.55) in franchise history of Kelowna players that have played more than 100 games.
“He’s one of the best players that’s ever played for the Rockets,” Rockets president and general manager Bruce Hamilton said in a press release.
When Kelowna’s Tij Iginla, the sixth overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft (Utah Hockey Club), was lost for the season in December due to hip surgery, Cristall being moved before Thursday’s WHL Trade Deadline became likely as Kelowna, who has the fifth worst record in the WHL, was unlikely to make the playoffs or challenge for a championship.
“He’s going to go on and have a great career,” Hamilton added. “He sadly didn’t get the chance for the World Junior team and unfortunately, he’s going to come up a little short for the all-time points record for our organization, but he was a solid, solid player for us and more importantly, just a wonderful young man that we were lucky to have here for four years. He’s drafted and signed by Washington, so he’ll be playing professionally next year so it was an opportunity for us to acquire a lot of assets.
“I can’t remember a player other than maybe Jamie Benn or Leon Draisaitl that controlled the game like he did. So, it’s a loss for our team but he gets the chance to play for the Memorial Cup this year with Spokane and he gives them a big offensive boost. We wish Andrew all the best and thank him for his contributions both on and off the ice to the Rockets organization.”
Cristall, who served as a black ace for the Hershey Bears during their 2024 Calder Cup championship run, was one of the Capitals’ final cuts during training camp, showing exceptional poise and creativity in the offensive zone. Despite his consistently producing for the Rockets, Cristall was snubbed by an underwhelming Team Canada team that didn’t medal at the 2025 World Junior Championship.
Per Spokane, Cristall is expected to make his Chiefs’ debut this weekend when the team visits first-place Everett on Friday, January 10, and Wenatchee on Saturday, January 11.
