The Hockey News named their top 100 NHL prospects and the Washington Capitals had four players make the list: goaltender Ilya Samsonov, forward Jakub Vrana, and defensemen Jonas Siegenthaler and Madison Bowey.
Although the Caps are in win-now mode more than ever, their pipeline is still strong.
The Hockey News ranked Ilya Samsonov 18th, Jakub Vrana 42nd, Jonas Sigenthaler 77th and Madison Bowey 89th on their top 100 Prospect List.
— Tommy Chalk (@Tommy_Chalk) March 8, 2017
- Ilya Samsonov comes in at #18 overall on the list, but is first among all goaltending prospects. This is an example of the rich getting richer as the Capitals keep consistently churning out NHL caliber netminders. The 20-year-old Russian just finished his third season with the KHL’s Metallurg Magnitogorsk, posting a 2.13 goals against average and a gaudy .936 save percentage.
- Current Capitals forward Jakub Vrana comes in at number 42. Vrana spent time in Hershey for parts of the last three seasons, but is now playing regularly with the big-league squad after Zach Sanford was traded. Vrana has posted two goals and four points in 16 games this year with the Caps.
- Jonas Siegenthaler is next at #77 and seems to be rising on prospect boards everywhere after a very impressive World Junior tournament. Siegenthaler put up six points in five games for Switzerland and logged a ton of minutes on the Swiss blue line. He is currently playing with Zurich SC of the Swiss-A league, but should be back stateside soon.
- Last but not least is Madison Bowey. Bowey comes in at #89 and the laceration of a tendon in his ankle earlier this year probably has a lot to do with his drop in the rankings. Still only 21-years-old, Bowey still has a lot of time to get back on track health wise and with his development.
In other Caps prospect news, 2014 fifth-round-pick Shane Gersich of the North Dakota Fighting Hawks was named as an honorable mention to the NCHC All-Conference team. The forward has 19 goals and 34 points this season leading his team in both categories.
Congratulations to All-NCHC Honorable Mention forward Shane Gersich! #UNDproud pic.twitter.com/u3bdyaakSw
— North Dakota MHockey (@UNDmhockey) March 8, 2017
Congrats to all five prospects!
