This article originally appeared in The Hockey News vol. 40, issue 36, on Jun 19, 1987.
BY BOB FACHET
LANDOVER, Md.—Success has taught the Washington Capitals patience.
When the Capitals make the 15th selection in the National Hockey League entry draft on June 13, they will be exercising their highest pick since 1982, when they grabbed defenseman Scott Stevens fifth overall.
Accordingly, the Capitals do not figure to get any immediate help on draft day.
“Our position has changed over the last few years,” said general manager David Poile. “It was once important that the first-round choice play on our team but now, drafting 15th, we will be drafting with the future in mind.
“We must project what a player’s abilities will be two or three years down the road. And, if we’re picking a major junior player, we will be doing so with the expectation that he will finish his junior eligibility down there.”
With that philosophy in mind, Poile can say with more than just a turn of the cliche that he will be taking the best player available when his turn finally comes around.
“If we had a deficiency today, it might not be the situation in two or three years when the draft choice is ready for the NHL,” Poile said. “It would be nice to have balance and draft in a depth-chart pattern—a goaltender, a couple of defensemen, forwards scattered among thé various positions. But when you’re watching 20 other teams pick between your selections, all you can do is go for the best player available.”
Still. Poile has no complaint.
“If it came to a choice of 21st (choice) or first,” he said, “I know what my answer would be. Of course, in the past, the better teams have improved their position by trading off depth. But now, few teams have much depth to spare and the lesser teams have learned that such deals haven’t helped them. There are very few changes in the drafting order as a result of trades.”
The Capitals’ principal shortcoming remains at left wing, a hole they tried to fill by drafting Jeff Greenlaw last year and Yvon Corriveau in 1985. Both started the past season in Washington, but Greenlaw was shackled by a stress fracture in the back and Corriveau was returned to the Toronto Marlboros.
Stevens is one of three first-round picks playing a major role for the Capitals. The others are right winger Mike Gartner (1979) and defenseman Kevin Hatcher (1984).
Five of Washington’s first-rounders are playing on other NHL teams. They are defenseman Rick Green (1976) and center Ryan Walter (1978) of Montreal, defenseman Robert Picard (1977) of Quebec, defenseman Darren Veitch (1980) of Detroit and center Bob Carpenter (1981) of Los Angeles.
