Caps Commence Rookie Camp

During more normal times, the Caps wouldn't have to wait very long to get their first look at newly drafted talent on the ice here at MedStar Capitals Iceplex. The NHL Draft is typically held in late June, and the Capitals hold a weeklong summer development camp almost immediately afterwards, featuring the newest draft class, some undrafted free agents and other prospects chosen in recent drafts filling out the camp roster.

But there is nothing typical about the times we're living in now. When the Caps open their fall rookie camp this Saturday at MCI, they'll be doing so for the first time in two years, and each of the last two summer development camps weren't held because of the ongoing pandemic. This month's three-day camp will provide Washington's 2020 and 2021 draft classes their first opportunity to get the lay of the land here at the team's practice facility, and it will also give the Capitals' brass its first local look at some of the 11 players it selected in the last two drafts.
Six of those 11 recently drafted players - three from each of the last two classes - will be in attendance this weekend, along with a few players drafted in earlier years who've already started up their pro careers. Twenty players will take part in the rookie camp, 13 of which are Washington draft choices.
Among the six players drafted in the 2021 Draft this past July, three will be in attendance. Washington didn't have a first-round choice in the 2021 Draft, but second-round (55th overall) defenseman Vincent Iorio will pull on his Caps practice gear for the first time, as will fifth-round (151st overall) center Haakon Hanelt and sixth-round (176th overall) defenseman Dru Krebs.
With a Nov. 14, 2002 birthdate, Iorio will be able to turn pro following his upcoming season with the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings.
"He is a big player but he skates really well," says Caps assistant general manager Ross Mahoney. "He's got offensive ability too, but I don't know if he was able to show it quite as much as I think he will next year. He played behind Braden Schneider, who the Rangers traded up to take at 19 [overall] last year. [Schneider] was the captain of the team and he was on the first power play and first penalty kill, and Vince was on the second power play and second penalty kill. We can see him getting more ice time for sure, but also being able to show that offensive ability that he's got."
A German pivot, Hanelt played with and against men in Germany's top league as a 17-year-old last season. For 2021-22, Hanelt is expected to play under coach Louis Robitaille - a former Capital who got into two games with Washington in 2005-06 - with Gatineau of the QMJHL.
"He is very strong on his skates and watching him, it wasn't like he was intimidated in playing against men," says Mahoney. "Not that he was disrespectful, but sometimes when you're a 17-year-old in that situation you can be a little bit [passive], but physically he didn't have a problem at all as far as being able to get out there and compete. He was unfortunate with a couple of injuries, and he wasn't able to play in the World Championships - the under 18 - but he would have been the captain of the team. [Caps scout] Peter Ihnacak spoke really, really highly of him."
Krebs played for Medicine Hat of the WHL last season, and like Iorio he should find himself with a larger role in 2021-22.
"He is a really good skater and he is real smart," says Mahoney. "He is more of a 5-foot-11, 180-pound guy, very dedicated. A lot of times, you'll hear scouts say they were surprised that a certain guy was still there when they picked; you hear that a lot after the draft, but I actually was surprised that he was still there when we picked. The challenge for him is to make himself a little bit stronger. He played with a few older defensemen, too. I think he is going to get more power play time.
"He is really intelligent and he understands angles and good reads, whether to pressure or to contain, and he is good on the penalty kill because of that intelligence that he's got. He is in a good situation [with Medicine Hat] as well, with [ex-NHL coach] Willie Desjardins. I think that's a really good environment because Willie is a real good teacher and I think that's a good spot for Dru."
From the Capitals' 2020 draft class, first-round (22nd overall) center Hendrix Lapierre, fifth-round (148th overall) center Bear Hughes and seventh-round (211th overall) left wing Oskar Magnusson will be in attendance and participating in their first Caps camp of any kind since they were drafted last October.
Among the players already in the Washington system, notable attendees include the Caps' entire four-player draft class of 2019: first-round center (25th overall) Connor McMichael, second-round right wing (56th overall) Brett Leason, third-round center (91st overall) Aliaksei Protas and fifth-round (153rd overall) defenseman Martin Has. McMichael, Leason and Protas have started their pro careers with AHL Hershey and the 20-year-old Has will be eligible to do so this fall.
From the 2018 class, second-round (47th overall) right wing Kody Clark and third-round (91st overall) right wing Riley Sutter will be in attendance. Defenseman Toby Geisser, Washington's fourth-round (120th overall) pick in the 2017 Draft, is the lone representative from that draft class, of which Geisser was the first of four players chosen.
A quartet of free agent invitees and a trio of signed free agents round out the Caps' rookie camp roster. Hershey Bears head coach Scott Allen and his coaching staff will oversee this year's rookie camp.
The Saturday and Monday sessions start at 1 p.m. when the goalies take the ice; the skaters will join them 20 minutes later on Saturday and 15 minutes later on Monday. The Sunday session gets underway at 10:10 a.m. when the goalies hit the ice, and they'll be joined by the rest of the group at 10:30 a.m.
All sessions are open to the public and free of charge. Fans attending Caps practices will be required to comply with all applicable regulations and recommendations issued by the Arlington County health authorities. Fans will be required to wear masks for all Capitals practices at MedStar Capitals Iceplex regardless of vaccination status.