The Capitals will not base their eighth overall selection in the 2023 NHL Draft on positioning or NHL readiness.
ARLINGTON, V.A. -- The Washington Capitals know that the chances of getting a future NHL star are high when they make their eighth overall selection at the 2023 NHL Draft on Wednesda -- and they also know that it's important to get this pick right.
Washington will select in the top 10 for the first time since 2007, and for assistant general manager Ross Mahoney and the organization, there's a lot that will go into play when looking at the draft board.
"We try to get every pick right for the organization no matter what round we're in," Mahoney said.
One name that continues to be of interest and on everyone's radar going into Nashville is Russian sensation Matvei Michkov. He has reportedly been nearly impossible to get in touch with, and Russian outlets have also said that he has been told not to talk to NHL clubs.
When asked if the Capitals have spoken to Michkov, Mahoney wouldn't provide a definitive answer.
"We're still trying to finalize all of that as far as the interviews that we've got at the draft, so I can't give you a definitive answer there right now," Mahoney said.
In addition to Michkov, there are several other names that stand out, including Dalibor Dvorsky, Zach Benson, David Reinbacher, Ryan Leonard and Oliver Moore. Several of the top-10 prospects are on different paths, with several carving out a career in juniors, others taking the U.S. National Team Development Program path and some overseas.
Looking at the big board, Mahoney said that Washington is taking the same draft philosophy into this year that they do any year: taking the best player available once the club is on the clock.
"To pass on one player for another player let's say because of a positional need, you may regret that later. You pass on a defenseman and you took a forward because you thought you needed some forwards, that could be tough... it's the best player available to us," Mahoney said of the team's mentality.
When it comes to choosing so early, some teams want an NHL-ready pick sooner rather than later. Though the Capitals want to return to their winning ways as soon as possible, there's not really emphasis on taking a player based on how quickly they can lace 'em up at the NHL level.
"As far as the contract talk, that really doesn't play a lot into our thoughts. We've always been very, very patient with our prospects. I think it's the right way to go," Mahoney added. "There's no sense to rush them into the NHL... I think it's part of our team philosophy of taking our time and overcooking them, so to speak. I think it's paid big dividends for us."
At the end of the day, Washington knows that it will be getting a key piece of the future, and even though the team would prefer to be picking later, it'll be rewarding to get a high selection.
"You don't like how you got there... it's been a while since we've had that pick. But I know the guys are excited, the scouts are very excited," Mahoney said. "Now that we've actually got a pick at 8 [we'll] be able to call a player's name that we think will be a very good player for the Capitals in the future."