The Washington Capitals selected center Connor McMichael with the No. 25 overall pick in the first round of the 2019 NHL draft Friday night.
McMichael, 18, got onto scouts’ radars with a breakout season for the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League in which he tallied 36 goals and 36 assists. He shoots left-handed and hails from Ajax, Ontario.
The pick addresses the Capitals’ lack of depth at forward in their minor league system; analysts project the 5-foot-11 McMichael as a potential top-six forward in the NHL.
General manager Brian MacLellan told reporters before the draft that their positional need could play a role in their final choice.
“I think it’ll factor into our decisions unless we see a defenseman that’s clearly above a forward that we like,” MacLellan said. “If the decision is close, I think we’re going to go with the forward.”
Washington went with a forward a year after drafting defenseman Alexander Alexeyev in the first round.
The Capitals hold four more picks in the draft, in rounds two, four, five and seven.
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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