Tuesday, August 14, 2018

31 Teams in 31 Days - Washington Capitals

The Capitals broke a 5 year streak of not selecting an OHL player in the draft. Celebrate!

1. Kody Clark - Ottawa 67's
Was definitely a bit surprised when Clark was drafted in the mid 2nd round by Washington this year, and that's coming from someone who is a fan of Clark's. Early on this year, he had shown marked improvements from the year prior, perhaps even going as far as saying he looked like one of the most improved players in the OHL. His ability to prolong possession in the offensive end because of how well he protects the puck, how strong he is, and how well he works the boards can be a major asset. And his skating made big strides, allowing him to become a threat off the rush where he can take the puck hard to the net and has better hands and puck skill than people give him credit for. But, he seemed to hit a wall in the second half, which could be explained by a shoulder injury that prevented him from playing in the Top Prospect's Game, and kept him out of OHL action for about three weeks. He had only 2 goals in the final 25 games of the season (including the playoffs). And they came in the same game. Moving into next year, Clark will look to re-establish the level of play he started the year with, maintain it over a full year, and remain healthy. The 67's are poised to be among the leaders of the Eastern Conference and Clark will be counted on to be a big part of their secondary scoring unit. A 30+ goal year and a ppg season is definitely a possibility. Would also like to see him assert himself physically a little more consistently, especially on the forecheck. 

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