The Washington Capitals are watching a handful of their top prospects as the playoffs get underway in multiple leagues — and they haven't disappointed.

First, both Cole Hutson and Ryan Leonard shined in their respective playoff-opening games for Boston University and Boston College in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

Hutson put on a show in the No. 8 Terriers' opening game of the tournament against No. 9 Ohio State, putting up a goal and three assists en route to an 8-3 win over the Buckeyes on Thursday.

Boston University advanced to the NCAA Regional Final, where it will face the No. 16 Cornell Big Red, which stunned Capitals prospect David Gucciardi and No. 1 Michigan State in the final seconds of regulation.

Hutson has been a force to be reckoned with at both ends of the ice, but it's his puck-moving ability, smooth skating and finesse that makes him stand out the most. Washington traded Beck Malenstyn to the Buffalo Sabres in order to trade up in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft for the 18-year-old blueliner.

GOTTA SEE IT: Alex Ovechkin Has Classy Final Gesture For Marc-Andre Fleury, Calls Capitals Back From Room To Shake Hands As the Washington Capitals made their way down the tunnel to the dressing room at Xcel Energy Center, wanting to put a 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild behind them quickly, captain Alex Ovechkin frantically sprinted over and called his teammates back to the ice.

Meanwhile, Leonard picked up his NCAA-leading 30th goal of the season, a game-clinching empty-net goal, in No. 1 Boston College's 3-1 win over No. 4 Bentley on Friday. He is the first player since Cam Atkinson in 2011 to post back-to-back 30-goal seasons at the NCAA level.

Leonard is expected to sign his entry-level contract and make the jump to Washington after his run with the Eagles comes to an end, which will provide D.C. with a major boost come playoff time thanks to Leonard's goal-scoring prowess, grit and speed. BC will face either Denver or Providence in the next round.

The Capitals are also waiting to see what's next for Ryan Chesley, whose season ended with the Minnesota Golden Gophers seeing an early first-round exit at the hands of the UMass Minutemen.

Chesley was the subject of a controversial non-call, as he was tripped up in overtime while carrying the puck, which led to a turnover and the subsequent OT winner.

In addition to NCAA action, the OHL playoffs are underway, and Ilya Protas has continued to surge. The younger brother of Capitals star Aliaksei Protas had four assists in the Windsor Spitfires' 7-2 victory over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in Game 1 of the OHL playoffs.

Protas finished his regular season as one of the CHL's top players, putting up 124 points in just 61 games.