After taking over the team only a day before the draft, new GM Alex Tousignant had a lot of work to do. First fielding offers for many players as well as the top 10 pick, he came to the realization that the team didn't have any good young prospects outside of winger Robert Nilsson.

Come draft day, even Nilsson would be gone; to be replaced by 5 other prospects and a veteran reserve defenseman.

8)    Derick Brassard
38)  Artem Anisimov
62)  Steve Mason
68)  Patric Hornqvist
158) David Clarkson
188) Bobby Allen

8th Overall, Derick Brassard

After not being able to strike a deal to drop down in the draft, the Capitals were fairly pleased to select Derick (not Derek) Brassard from the Drummondvile Voltigeurs, and though he was injured most of the year- the Capitals still have very high hopes for his future. He was dominant in the playoffs scoring 24 points in only 12 games and the Capitals were dismayed by the fact they missed out on guys like Okposo or Mueller but still believe Brassard is a legit top line prospect.

The draft table had a very heated debate about whether to draft Brassard, Frolik or goalie Jonathan Bernier- but ended up taking who they felt was the BPA at the time. With no prospects in the system, Brassard instantly became the teams top prospect and should be in the BRHL2 within a couple seasons.

38th Overall, Artem Anisimov

The Capitals next pick in the draft came at 38th overall where they selected high risk Russian prospect, Artem Anisimov. Anisimov has had a very rough time in Russia, only getting sheltered 4th line minutes - but when the playoffs came he showed what he was capable of. He has recently shown interest in coming to North America and could end up in Washington in roughly 3 seasons.

He has everything a team could want from a prospective center...good hands, good vision, great size, good speed and has definitely top 2 line upside. He needs to fill out his vast frame and the Capitals would like to see him play a little more physical. A future of Brassard-Anisimov down the middle could be fun to watch.

62nd Overall, Steve Mason

The team acquired the 62nd pick in the draft after trading Jeff O'Neill, Robert Nilsson, #82+#98+#128th for the #62 pick and forward Alexander Steen. The team felt that O'Neill didn't fit the mold of the team GM Tousignant wanted to make, and Nilsson was moved in favor of the safer Steen.

"We feel that Steen has 65-70 point potential while playing a very sound 2-way game. Even if he never develops his potential as a big time point guy, we know what we are getting with his defensive presence....Nilsson hurts to lose but with guys like Stempniak, Perry and McDonald on the wings we felt we coudl move him in the trade."

One of the big reasons for the move was also the fact the Capitals could get the #62 pick to take goalie Steve Mason who the team was surprised was still on the board. With a very weak goalie position throughout the organization, the team knew they had to take a goalie in this draft and felt Mason in the 3rd round was perfect. He's a big goalie, just coming into his own in juniors but is still a long term project quite a ways from manning the Capitals ranks.

68th Overall, Patric Hornqvist

Only a handful of picks later, the Capitals used their own 3rd round selection on Swedish winger Patric Hornqvist. A bit of a reach in the 3rd round the Capitals were very impressed with his ability to put pucks in the net in the top league in Sweden and jumped at the chance to add him.

"With Kulemin going so early in the 1st round (after scoring 27 goals and 39 points in 52 games in Russia) we felt that Hornqvist's 23 goals and 34 points in 49 games should be a great value pick when looked back in the future. He is also about 6 months younger than Kulemin and while we do feel Kulemin has better BRHL2 potential, Hornqvist could definitely surprise

Unfortunately for the Capitals, they wanted to take undrafted Sobotka with the pick, but opted instead for Hornqvist hoping everyone would overlook the small center. The Bruins picked up Sobotka later however, so time will tell wheter picking Hornqvist over Sobotka was the right move.

158th overall, David Clarkson
188th overall, Bobby Allen

For the Capitals last 2 picks of the draft, they opted to go with fairly more proven guys - in taking Clarkson at #158 and Allen in the 7th round.  Clarkson had a pretty good year last season and should be in BRHL2, possibly by next season. He looks like he could be a good grinder/energy player who can pot in 15-20 points a year. With the lack of depth on the Capitals team, management felt like he was worth a shot this late in the draft, rather than taking some random prospect who might never even make it to the NHL.

Allen is nothing more than a reserve/7th defenseman that the Capitals felt would add some depth to the depleted Capitals defense. Already approaching UFA age, the Capitals don't expect Allen to ever play a big part in the BRHL2 but don't mind the depth.