Here's a look at the Capitals' top prospects so far this season.

There's been a lot of change for the Washington Capitals in 2023-24, and quite a few things for the team to consider, from maintaining consistency as they start to pile up wins to what's next for Alex Ovechkin and the current core. If there's one thing the team doesn't have to worry about, though, it's the future.

Washington has enjoyed watching a strong performance from a number of its rising stars this season, from Ryan Leonard at Boston College to Ivan Miroshnichenko with the AHL's Hershey Bears.

Here's The Hockey News prospect report and the latest on some of the future Capitals:

Ryan Leonard

Leonard has taken to the NCAA more than well, as he's been dominating in his freshman season with Boston College and is currently on the heater of his career.

The 18-year-old, who Washington took eighth overall int he 2023 NHL Draft in June, is on a nine-game point streak with the Eagles, and has 12 points over that span. Three of those games were multi-point outings.

Leonard is making the most of his opportunities and using his size, speed and grit to his advantage. The 6-foot, 192-pound winger is also showcasing his lethal shot, and his 17 points (10 goals, seven assists) through 14 games ranks fourth overall on a stacked B.C. team.

The Capitals should be extremely excited for Leonard, who is making major strides and could see his NCAA to NHL jump come sooner rather than later.

Ivan Miroshnichenko

After terminating his KHL contract in the summer, Miroshnichenko made his way overseas to join Washington and get going on his pro career. And after a strong training camp, he was sent down to Hershey to continue adapting to the North American game, and to North America itself.

The Russian has been adapting well and showing continued growth in his game, and so far, he has six goals and seven assists for 13 points in 20 games for the defending Calder Cup champion Bears, who have won the most games to open a season in franchise history.

Miroshnichenko has been playing on the fourth line of late with Riley Sutter and Matt Strome, and there, he's been able to showcase his lethal shot, playmaking and passing ability while also improving his two-way play.

Andrew Cristall

Another name that the Capitals are thrilled about is Andrew Cristall, who had been a projected late first-round pick and dropped to D.C. at No. 40. So far, it's looking like it will turn out to be a major steal.

Cristall's skating has taken a huge step forward, and he's kicked his game into higher gear and is playing with confidence and top-tier talent down with the WHL's Kelowna Rockets following his first NHL training camp.

The 18-year-old ranks eighth in the WHL in scoring, with 14 goals and 23 assists for 37 points in just 19 games so far this season.

More Prospect Notes

- Joaquim Lemay is having an impressive sophomore season with the University of Nebraska Omaha, as he has nine points in nine games and he has been named the NCHC Defenseman of the Week on two separate occasions so far.

- Alexander Suzdalev was loaned to Mora IK of the HockeyAllsvenskan, the second-highest tier of hockey in Sweden, following a number of scratches for Hershey, who he started the year with.  The 6-foot-2, 172-pound winger has two goals and an assist through seven games this season and appears to be getting his confidence back after his Bears stint didn't go as planned.

- Another 2021 third-rounder, Ludwig Persson, has also made quite a statement with his play so far this season. On loan with Mestis's Iiasalmi Peli Karhut, Persson has thrived with three goals and 24 assists for 27 points in 21 games.

- Haakon Hanelt, who has dealt with injuries and adversity since being drafted in the fifth round of the 2021 NHL Draft, signed with the Deutsche Eishockey Liga's Kölner Haie following two years with the QMJHL's Gatineau Olympiques. Hanelt then moved to the Cologne Sharks for 11 games, and he has also spent time with the DEL-2's Bad Nauheim EC, where he has one goal in two games.

- 2023 seventh-rounder Brett Hyland, who had season-ending knee surgery last year, is back with the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings this year. He has 11 goals and five assists for 16 points in 25 games so far.

- Two goaltending prospects in Mitchell Gibson and Antoine Keller scored goals on Friday in their respective ECHL and QMJHL games.