I thought this was the best develpoment scrimmage I have ever been to. The competativness was high and a few guys stood out to me. First, the line of Andre Burakovsky, Jakub Vrana, and Slovenian Olympian Jan Urbas was the most dominent. Burakovsky was being tried out at center and looked like a seasoned vet. Now, he wasn't playing against pro talent but he made a big step in his development with a 4 point game in the scrimmage I was at.
Secondly, Jakub Vrana looks like natural goal scorer. He can fire the puck in small spots in the net, and is a fast skater. I do think he needs to get a little stronger, but he was a better two-way player then I was hearing when the Caps drafted him 13th overall.
Another player who caught my eye was C/W Travis Boyd. The Caps drafted Boyd in the 6th round in 2011. This past season he was the third line center for U. of Minnesota. I have noticed big improvement ever year he has been to camp.
Lastly, I am impressed with D Madison Bowey. This past year he was the captain of the Kelowna Rockets and scored 21 goals along with 39 assists. He just has a swagger about him that makes me think he can make the Caps roster in 2 years.
One more quick thought is on RW Riley Barber. I have had high hopes for him since watching him in the World Junior Championships. I feel like he has the talent to make the Caps, but they are loaded at RW and Barber is also going back to Miami U. He did well playing with LW Nathan Walker who was drafted in the 3rd round this year after impressing the Caps in the preseason last year. Walker also saw time with the Hershey Bears.
I will write more on Caps prospects leading up to training camp. I will show my Top 10 prospects in the month of August.
Jakub Vrana shootout goal:
Andre Burakovsky Goal during scrimmage:
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