First Round Picks: No. 26
1999-2000 Record: 44-26-12 (2), 102 points (Tied for 5th overall)
What they need
Scorers are once again a need in D.C. after another season in which only two Caps had 20 or
more goals (Chris Simon with 29 and Peter Bondra with 21). A quality back-up to Olaf Kolzig (73 appearances in 1999-2000) may also be in George McPhee's plans.
In their system
Center Kris Beech (7th overall in '99) had a big year at Calgary (WHL), with 32 goals and 86 points in 66 games. He also displayed a physical side, recording 99 PIM's. A sleeper is right wing Chris Corrinet (107th
overall in '98). In 30 games at Princeton (NCAA-ECAC), Corrinet had 10 goals, 24 points, and 41 PIM's. Also of note is center Michal Sivek (29th overall in '99), who had 23 goals and 60 points in 53 games at Prince Albert (WHL).
In goal, Jomar Cruz, Washington's top pick in '98 (49th overall), had another difficult season at Brandon (WHL), posting just
seven wins in 21 appearances with a 3.81 GAA and .890 save percentage. Another netminder, Curtis Cruickshank (89th overall in '97), eased his way into the pro ranks in 1999-2000, going 4-3-0 with a 3.52 GAA in seven appearances with
Hampton Roads (ECHL) and 4-5-1 with a 2.98 GAA in 10 outings at Portland (Maine) (AHL).
Recent draft history
With execption of defensemen Sergei Gonchar (14th overall in '92), who had 18 goals this
past season, and Brendan Witt (114 PIM's in 77 GP in 1999-2000), most of Washington's recent draft picks have not
made impacts while wearing Caps sweaters. While Jason Allison (17th overall in '93) has had success in Boston, a num-
ber of high Washington picks have, for one reason or another, not panned out in the NHL (Reggie Savage, John Slaney,
Pat Peake, Trevor Halverson, Nolan Baumgartner, Alexander Kharlamov, Brad Church, Miika Elomo, Alexander
Volchkov, Jarolslav Svejkovsky).
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FIRST-ROUND SELECTIONS (LAST FIVE YEARS)
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| YEAR |
PICK |
PLAYER |
POS. |
'99 TEAM |
'99 G-A-Pts |
| 1999 |
7 |
Kris Beech |
C |
Calgary (WHL) |
32-54-86 |
| 1997 (Re-entered in '99) |
9 |
Nick Boynton |
D |
Providence (AHL) |
5-14-19 |
| 1996 |
4
17 |
Alexandre Volchkov
Jaroslav Svejkovsky |
C
RW |
Portland (AHL)
Washington-TB (NHL) |
13-21-34
6-7-13 |
| 1995 |
17
23 |
Brad Chruch
Mikka Elomo |
LW
LW |
NA
Portland (AHL) |
NA
21-14-35 |
|
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ALSO SEE
Capitals' first-round history
Team Needs: Atlanta Thrashers
Team Needs: Carolina Hurricanes
Team Needs: Florida Panthers
Team Needs: Tampa Bay Lightning
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