With the 2014 NHL Draft upon us, management from all 30 teams will be gathering in Philadelphia for seven rounds of selections to acquire the rights of the league’s future stars. The Washington Capitals currently hold the thirteenth overall pick, and with it, they plan to address one of two major organizational needs.
It’s no secret that the Caps have severely suffered from a lack of quality defensemen and a secure second-line center. While there are a number of potential options for general manager Brian MacLellan and his staff, two players stand out among the rest.
Top 2 Potential First-Round Draftees for Washington
Beginning with the most needed position in D.C., the amount of high-end blue liners in this year’s entry draft is quite limited to say the least. It’s safe to say that projected first-overall pick Aaron Ekblad [Barrie, OHL] and 6-foot-2 Haydn Fleury [Red Deer, WHL] will not be available to the Capitals once their turn rolls around. Despite the fact that many reliable draft guides, specifically Kyle Woodlief’s Red Line Report, have ranked Fleury at exactly the thirteenth position on their list, it seems as if the 17-year-old will go much earlier, most likely somewhere between the eighth and tenth picks.
If that is indeed how it pans out, Washington would still have a few different options if they chose to go the defensive route. To many, the most logical choices would be players such as Anthony DeAngelo [Sarnia, OHL], Julius Honka [Swift Current, WHL], or even Jack Dougherty [USA U-18, USHL]. However, there’s one defenseman that seems to fit the Capitals’ bill that may slip under other teams’ radars come draft day.
Travis Sanheim, 18, of the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen has become one of the fastest-rising prospects on this year’s draft list, and for good reason.
Sanheim, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound behemoth, recorded five goals and 24 assists in 67 total games played with the Hitmen last season. In a March issue of USA Today, Kyle Woodlief praised the young defender and openly acknowledged the fact that he’s been on the rise.
“[He] has been a revelation of late,” said Woodlief. “[The] huge, rangy blue-liner’s confidence has been soaring, and we love his combination of size, skating, puck skills, and shot.”
When a draft such as this one is scarce in terms of quality depth at a specific position, a lot of surprise selections are made that tend to shock the hockey universe. Don’t be shocked if the Caps take Sanheim with their first-round pick.
Moving on to the center position, there’s a bit more flexibility in regards to who Washington could possibly pick up at No. 13. It’s clear that higher-echelon guys like Sam Reinhart [Kootenay, WHL], Sam Bennett [Kingston, OHL], and Leon Draisaitl [Prince Albert, WHL] will all be scooped up far before Brian MacLellan gets a chance to step up to the podium, but another center that yet again may very well be undervalued at this year’s draft is Robby Fabbri of the OHL’s Guelph Storm.
Fabbri produced 45 goals and 42 assists for 87 total points and was a plus-45 in 58 games played for Guelph last season. He also managed to put up 28 points in 16 postseason games.
The Mississauga, Ontario, native centered arguably the league’s most dominant line between Kerby Rychel and Zack Mitchell. Ultimately, the Storm managed to ride Fabbri’s performance all the way to the Memorial Cup final before eventually falling to the Edmonton Oil Kings.
Don’t let his 5-foot-10, 170-pound stature fool you. What Fabbri lacks in sheer size he makes up for with his raw aggressiveness and drive. For the Capitals, it would be a perfect first-round fit if they indeed desire a future candidate to slide in behind Nicklas Backstrom as the team’s No. 2 middleman.
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