Looking Ahead Today

As JP posted here, at Japers' Rink, Michal Neuvirth was signed by the Caps today. Good news, to be sure. Now, consider this:

Alexander Ovechkin
Jeff Schultz
Mike Green
Chris Bourque
Mikhail Yunkov
Sami Lepisto
Clayton Barthel
Oscar Hedman
Pasi Salonen
Peter Guggisberg
Andrew Gordon
Justin Mrazek
Travis Morin
Sasha Pokulok
Joe Finley
Andrew Thomas
Patrick McNeill
Daren Machesney
Tim Kennedy
Nicklas Backstrom
Semen Varlamov
Michal Neuvirth
Francois Bouchard
Keith Seabrook
Oskar Osala
Luke Lynes
Maxime Lacroix
Brent Gwidt
Mathieu Perreault

That, folks, is the list of 29 draftees by the Caps since 2004. It’s turning into quite a list.

Players who have seen at least some playing time with the Caps includes:

Alexander Ovechkin
Mike Green
Jeff Schultz

AHL contributors:

Chris Bourque
Sasha Pokulok (ok, it’s one game this year, but he’s had injury issues)

Under contract:

Nicklas Backstrom
Daren Machesney
Travis Morin
Patrick McNeill
Andrew Gordon
Sami Lepisto
Michal Neuvirth (the newly minted Cap)

Add to this the fine performances chronicled in recent weeks and months for such as:

Semen Varlamov
Francois Bouchard
Joe Finley
Oscar Osala

…and even The Peerless, who has lamented the Caps inability to find any nuggets past the first round in the last decade, has to admit this looks mighty fine for the longer term prospects of the club.