The Washington Capitals made five selections on the second day of the 2023 NHL Draft on Thursday, including the second-round pick of left wing Andrew Cristall seen "as one of the most polarizing players in the draft, in terms of possible draft position."
Washington selected Cristall with the 40th overall pick after the 18-year-old forward slipped out of the first round where some analysts expected him to be picked. “I thought he was going to go in the first round,” Caps general manager Brian MacLellan said, via the Washington Post. “We had him in the first round. I think he was a target coming into the second day.”
The Vancouver native was ranked 15th among all North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting and had been projected to be picked as early as 12th overall and as late 35th overall.
On Wednesday, the Capitals used their first-round pick (eighth overall) on forward Ryan Leonard.
Cristall, 5-foot-10, 165 pounds, was on the smaller size of prospects but was scouted as "a textbook playmaker with great stickhandling and passing ability," Josh Schmit wrote for Audacy, adding he uses "great stickhandling and skating abilities to create plays to set teammates up for highlight reel goals."
He spent the 2022-23 season with the WHL's Kelowna Rockets, and in 54 games he lead the team in goals (39), assists (56), and points (95). Cristall’s 1.76 points per game ranked fourth in the league, while his 95 points ranked tied for sixth.
“I’m a highly skilled offensive player,” Cristall said, via the Post. “I can produce at a high rate. I like to bring people out of their seats.”
However, there were some negatives to his game. "Risky plays often lead to some risky turnovers, and that is a significant problem that Cristall shows a little bit more than to be expected for a player of his caliber," Schmit wrote. "When these turnovers do happen, he seems to lack the urgency to get back and help on the defensive side of the puck."
Washington's other picks were center Patrick Thomas in the fourth round (104th overall), defenseman Cam Allen in the fifth round (136th overall) and in the seventh round center Brett Hyland (200th overall) and goaltender Anotine Keller (206th overall).
Thomas, 18, tallied 56 points (17 goals, 39 assists) in 66 games with the Hamilton/Brantford Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League last season.
“Good hands,” Capitals assistant general manager Ross Mahoney said of Thomas, via the Post. “Smart player. Needs to get stronger, for sure. He’s got really good offensive instincts.”
Allen, 18, was the 12th North American defensemen and 46th among all North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. He recorded 25 points (5 goals, 20 assists) in 62 games with the Guelph Storm of the OHL in 2022-23.
Hyland, 20, totaled 47 points (26 goals, 21 assists) in 42 games with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL last season.
Keller, 18, spent the majority of his 2022-23 season Genève-Servette’s U-20 team (Switzerland), where he posted an 8-13-2 record with a 3.40 goals-against average.
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