CAPITALS GENERAL MANAGER McPHEE HAPPY WITH DRAFT PICKS

General Manager George McPhee thinks that the Capitals made terrific use of their picks in the NHL draft in Montreal this weekend.

“We really went for talent,” said McPhee. “And for the most part we drafted guys that are real good skaters, have hockey sense and are competitive. Talent, Talent, Talent – just trying to get the best.”

McPhee, known for seeking the best players regardless of position, has been hailed for his success in identifying the level of young talent that led affiliate Hershey Bears to a Calder Cup victory this year.

“I’m not sure what the breakdown is because you can’t really say that we are trying to draft one position,” he explained. “But I’ve always said that you’ve got to draft the best players because if you are looking for a certain position, you’ll make that kid at that position out to be better than he really is sometimes. So we just drafted, in my mind, the best talent.”

McPhee called first-round pick Marcus Johansson, a center from Sweden, “a very well-rounded player, very good in almost every area of his game. ... (He is) quick, smart and competitive.”

He said that second round selection Dmitri Orlov, a Russian defenseman from Novokuznetsk, “is a really talented kid -- great wheels, real smart and great hands. He’s about as talented as they come. … And he can hit. He’s gritty.”

And in describing third round pick Cody Eakin, a center from Winnipeg, Manitoba, McPhee said, “Ahh, speed, competitiveness, some ability there.”

Other prospects selected by the Capitals were Patrick Wey, a defenseman from Pittsburgh who played for Waterloo; Brett Flemming, a defenseman from Regina, Saskatchewan; Garrett Mitchell a right wing, also from Regina and Benjamin Casavant, a left wing who will come from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

“As I said,” enthused McPhee, “all of these guys can really skate – good wheels, and they have good hockey sense and are competitive.”

In discussing the entire Capitals organization, McPhee opined, “I think that we’re doing a good job, and we’ve really improved our drafting. Our minor league team plays well, and they’ve developed the kids pretty well. They’re winning championships. So we’re really happy with where our organization is right now. The big club has played well. Hershey plays well. The kids are really developing. But there are always ways to improve, and we’ll keep looking for ways to do that.”

McPhee also said that finding a replacement for Bob Woods, the Bears’ head coach who was recently promoted to assistant coach of the Capitals, is probably “a couple of weeks away. We’ve had to get through this week and next week, and then hopefully things will settle down and we can focus on that.”

In other action, the Capitals sent prospect Sami Lepisto to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for a pick in the 2010 draft. Sphere: Related Content