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Capitals Draft Finnish Two-Way Center Oliver Suvanto at 18

6/27/2026

42 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

Capitals Draft Suvanto

The Washington Capitals selected Finnish center Oliver Suvanto with the No. 18 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Oliver Suvanto, a 6-ft-3-in, 209-lb forward, posted 2 goals and 9 assists in 48 Liiga games for Tappara while scouts view him as a two-way center whose stride slows transition.
The Capitals’ center depth shrank after trading Milton Gastrin to St. Louis and expecting Ilya Protas, prompting GM Chris Patrick to consider trading assets.

Summary

Capitals Select Suvanto

The Capitals drafted Suvanto in the first round, their second Finnish first-rounder since 2006.
Suvanto won the Esa Peltonen Award and added 11 points in 13 playoff games for Tappara.
He scored two goals at the 2026 World Junior Championships and three points at the Under-18 event.
Assistant GM Ross Mahoney called the Finnish-player drought a coincidence and praised scout Matti Lamberg.

History

Historical Context

After selecting Swedish center Nicklas Backstrom fourth overall in 2006, the Washington Capitals began a streak of European first-round picks—including Anton Gustafsson (2008) and Evgeny Kuznetsov (2010)—that reshaped their roster. Backstrom logged 1,105 games, recorded 762 assists and helped Washington reach the 2018 Stanley Cup Final, reinforcing the franchise’s long-term overseas scouting emphasis.

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Capitals Draft Suvanto

The Washington Capitals selected Finnish center Oliver Suvanto with the No. 18 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Oliver Suvanto, a 6-ft-3-in, 209-lb forward, posted 2 goals and 9 assists in 48 Liiga games for Tappara while scouts view him as a two-way center whose stride slows transition.
The Capitals’ center depth shrank after trading Milton Gastrin to St. Louis and expecting Ilya Protas, prompting GM Chris Patrick to consider trading assets.

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