SB Nation DC - 2012 NHL Entry Draft: Capitals Sign No. 16 Pick Tom Wilson

Capitals Reach Agreement With First Round Pick Tom Wilson

2012-07-19T13:18:38Z

According to CapGeek.com, Tom Wilson has agreed to a three-year contract with the Washington Capitals. The second of two first round picks by the Caps, the 18-year old Wilson played with the Plymouth Whalers for the last two years after being selected in the second round of the 2010 OHL Draft.

Selected five picks after the first selection of the Capitals, Filip Forsberg, Wilson is reportedly to receive a three-year contract worth just under $3 million of total value. His cap hit for each of the next three seasons will be $1.325 million.

Wilson is also a member of the Canadian National Team and recorded 27 points for the Whalers during the 2011-12 regular season as well as an additional 13 points during the postseason in 13 games.

For more on the Washington Capitals, check out Japers' Rink. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page.

Filip Forsberg Signs With Capitals

2012-07-13T19:20:03Z

Last month in Pittsburgh during the 2012 NHL Draft, the Capitals couldn't believe their good fortune when the top-ranked European skater fell all the way down to their first-round pick, and Washington enthusiastically drafted Filip Forsberg.

Exactly three weeks after being picked by the Caps with the 11th overall pick, the 17-year-old Swedish product signed his first North American professional contract, a three-year entry-level deal with the Capitals, worth $832,500 at the NHL level and $70,000 if he plays in Hershey.

Despite the fact he now is under contract with Washington, Forsberg told reporters Friday he would still continue his plan to play in Europe next season - he had indicated he was not coming over for the 2012-13 season at the draft - and today said he will not be at Capitals' training camp in September since it coincides with his Swedish club Leksand's season.

With a contract in hand, however, the question now becomes when Forsberg makes his North American debut.

"Of course, that's a hard question," Forsberg said when asked when he would be joining the Caps full-time. "I will be playing in Leksand this year, but if the Caps want me over, maybe I give it a shot, but it's hard to tell a year ahead."

The timing of the signing of the entry-level deal is a bit unusual, as typically picks sign their deal just as they are ready to enter the organization's system. According to the release announcing the deal, the Capitals are "expected to assign" Forsberg to Leksand, who he had been under contract to for the upcoming season.

"My agent has been talking to the staff in Capitals since the draft," Forsberg said. "They wanted to sign me and of course I wanted to be signed for such a big organization, a good team. So yeah, it was a dream coming true to sign with the Capitals."

The deal does allow the Caps to put the first-rounder under a deal under the current collective bargaining agreement - which expires in September. It also potentially opens the door for Forsberg to play late next season in Washington or Hershey since he would be under an existing entry-level deal, once the Swedish season ends.

Forsberg has been participating in the Capitals' Development Camp at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington this week, and just in the fifth day of camp - just 21 days after donning a Washington sweater on the podium at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh - he signed a deal.

"I felt pretty good," Forsberg said Friday. "I got a good first feeling from the Capitals. I thought it was a good decision to get it done right away."

Forsberg was the top-ranked European skated by Central Scouting heading into this year's draft, but the 17-year-old slipped down the board as there was a run on defensemen. Washington had not anticipated Forsberg falling down to their spot heading into the draft, but were pleased to have landed a prospect that scouts consider close to NHL-ready.

He has been showing off a deft passing touch this week playing against other of the club's prospects, and the club hopes that he will be able to put those on display in the near future.

Forsberg and the rest of Washington's prospects wrap up development camp Saturday morning at Kettler at 10 a.m., as the team also holds its annual FanFest.

Washington Capitals Announce Signing Of Filip Forsberg

2012-07-13T15:43:34Z

The selection of Filip Forsberg with the no. 16 selection in the 2012 NHL Draft earned the Washington Capitals much praise. Considered by many analysts to be one of the top three talents available in the entire draft, the Caps pounced on the Swedish player when he became available in the latter half of the first round.

Just as the Capitals pounced on draft day, the team wasted no time in signing the new rookie to a contract, announcing a three-year deal for Forsberg on Friday morning. According to the team, Forsberg will make $832,500 at the NHL level and $70,000 in the AHL.

According to Chuck Gormley of CSN Washington, Forsberg had a strong developmental camp for the Capitals, but he is still expected to play in Sweden next year. The 17-year old has scored 30 goals in 95 career games in international play.

For more on the Washington Capitals, check out Japers' Rink. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page.

Washington Capitals 2012 NHL Draft Grades: Filip Forsberg Pick Brings High Marks

2012-06-25T15:02:26Z

The Washington Capitals added eight new players to the fold in last week's 2012 NHL Draft. The team's latest infusion of talent was highlighted by the Filip Forsberg pick at No. 11 in the first round. That was one of two first-round picks for the Caps on Friday night. Though it is still early, Washington is scoring great marks for their work in the draft.

Monday morning draft grades from Matt Wagner at SB Nation's NHL hub put Washington among the best in the Eastern Conference, thanks to a surprise in the opening round.

Arguably landing the steal of the draft when Filip Forsberg dropped to them at 11th overall, Washington also made a good move to land Mike Ribiero to fill out their top six and added a gritty two way player with Thomas Wilson who seems like he could be a good fit for the "Dale Hunter" style of hockey. Shame that Hunter won't actually be back to coach the team. A

Now all the Caps need is a coach.

For more on the Washington Capitals, check out Japers' Rink. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page.

2012 NHL Entry Draft: Recapping The Capitals Selections

2012-06-23T19:29:13Z

The Washington Capitals had 10 picks between the first and seventh rounds of the 2012 NHL Draft with the Caps having two picks each in the first and fourth rounds and three in the seventh round. The only round that Washington didn't have pick was the second.

Here is a look at all of the Capitals selections by round, overall pick and position:

First Round:

No. 11 Filip Forsberg - C
No. 16 Thomas Wilson - RW

Third Round

No. 77 Chandler Stephenson - C/LW

Fourth Round

No. 100 Thomas Di Pauli - C
No. 107 Austin Wuthrich - RW

Fifth Round

No. 137 Connor Carrick - D

Sixth Round

No. 167 Riley Barber - RW

Seventh Round

No. 195 Christian Djoos - D
No. 197 Jaynen Rissling - D
No. 23 Sergei Kostenko - G

For more on the Washington Capitals, check out Japers' Rink. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page.

NHL Entry Draft 2012 Results: Capitals Select Christian Djoos, Jaynen Rissling, Sergei Kostenko In Seventh Round

2012-06-23T16:51:21Z

The 2012 NHL Entry Draft has come to a close for the Washington Capitals. After making the 11th and 16th picks on Friday night in the first round of this year's draft, Washington had eight selections on Saturday in rounds two through seven. The Capitals have just made their three seventh round choices, wrapping up this year's draft class. The choices at No. 195, No. 197 and No. 203, via Mike Vogel of washingtoncaps.com:

#Caps take Christian Djoos from Brynas in Sweden at 195.
— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) June 23, 2012

Djoos is a bit of an undersized defenseman at 5'11", 158 pounds. His selection was quickly followed by the choice of another defenseman:

Jaynen Rissling from Calgary of the WHL goes to #Caps at pick No. 197.Big D-man (6-4, 222). Sept. 93 birthdate.
— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) June 23, 2012

Finally, Washington topped off their draft by taking their first goaltender in the entire process, Russian Sergei Kostenko:

#Caps took the goalie I heard they were going to take at 203: Sergei Kostenko, born 9/17/92, 5-11, 165.
— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) June 23, 2012

For more on the Washington Capitals, check out Japers' Rink. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page.

NHL Entry Draft 2012 Results: Washington Capitals Select Riley Barber With 167th Pick

2012-06-23T16:33:29Z

The 2012 NHL Entry Draft is coming to a close, as teams have spent Saturday morning burning through picks in rounds two through five. Two rounds remain in this year's draft, and the Washington Capitals have just made their fifth selection of the day, the 167th overall pick. The choice, via Mike Vogel of washingtoncaps.com:

#Caps choose forward Riley Barber at 167, another kid from the US DTP. Headed for Miami (Ohio) U.
— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) June 23, 2012

Barber is the fourth player from the U.S. Under-18 Development squad to be chosen by Washington in this years draft, joining Thomas Di Pauli, Austin Wuthrich and Connor Carrick.

Barber's father Don was drafted in 1983 by Edmonton and went on to play in the NHL for Minnesota, Winnipeg, Quebec and San Jose during a three year career. Barber is a native of Washington, Pennsylvania, and was born in Pittsburgh.

For more on the Washington Capitals, check out Japers' Rink. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page.

NHL Entry Draft 2012 Results: Capitals Fifth Round Pick Connor Carrick Headed To College, According To Report

2012-06-23T16:17:07Z

The 2012 NHL Entry Draft is continuing on Saturday at the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, following a first round full of activity on Friday night. Teams are burning through their selections in rounds two through seven, with the draft already entering the sixth round as the noon hour passes on the east coast.

The Washington Capitals have made four selections so far on Saturday, most recently Connor Carrick in the fifth round with the 137th overall pick. As it turns out, it appears the first defenseman taken by Washington in the draft won't be playing for the Capitals anytime soon. Via Stephen Whyno of the Washington Times:

Connor Carrick going to Michigan. Says his mom will kill him if he doesn't get a degree. #Caps took him at 137.
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) June 23, 2012

Carrick is the second member of the United States' Under-18 Development squad that the Capitals have selected in the 2012 draft. Sounds like the team may be waiting on him for awhile, as he dons the maize and blue for the Wolverines.

For more on the Washington Capitals, check out Japers' Rink. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page.