The Capitals took the Finnish center in the 2026 NHL Draft.
After having traded their No. 16 overall pick earlier in the week as part of the trade for Jordan Kyrou, the Washington Capitals held onto their No. 18 overall selection, and used it to select Finnish center Oliver Suvanto.
Suvanto was the No. 3 ranked international skater by NHL Central Scouting, and projects as a reliable, middle-6 center.
The 6-foot-3, 207-pound pivot is a strong skater and big-bodied, two-way center who plays a shutdown role and complements the offense. He has a high hockey IQ and good awareness, and uses his size and reach to win puck battles.
Suvanto also thrives around the boards, supports his defensemen and takes good care of the puck, and he can win face-offs. He's also relentless on the forecheck and strong at the net-front.
This past season, Suvanto made the full-time jump to Liiga, the top flight of professional hockey in Finland, and showed maturity while playing a big role for Tappara. Through 48 games playing against grown men, he had two goals and nine assists for 11 points while taking on second-line minutes. He also appeared in a playoff game.
Assistant general manager Ross Mahoney mentioned earlier in the week that there would be a good mix of centers and defensemen available around the time D.C. was on the clock, and that the team wanted to add some size. Suvanto checks those boxes and also has the upside and drive to become an impact player at the highest level.
Washington had acquired the No. 18 selection at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline from the Anaheim Ducks as part of return for defenseman John Carlson.
