Goaltender Michael Neuvirth, the Caps 3rd pick (34th overall) in the 2006 Entry Draft, is making quite a name for himself in the OHL.The 18-year-old (and reigining OHL Player of the Week) has led Plymouth to a Western Conference Championship and is now 10-2 with a 2.31 goals against average and a .942 save percentage in the playoffs. Neuvirth and the Whalers now await the winner of the Sudbury-Belleville series to play for the OHL Championship.
Along the way, Neuvirth has received plenty of praise, including this from London (the team Plymouth just vanquished) head coach Dale Hunter:
"The Washington Capitals made a good pick with him. He was good down low. We had our chances."Fifty shots on goal last night, to be exact, only one of which got by the Czech netminder.
It is, of course, way too early to tell, but with Neuvirth and Semen Varlamov both impressing so far, Francois Bouchard leading the QMJHL in scoring and, oh yeah, Nicklas Backstrom, the 2006 draft might be looked back on as one of the best in team history.
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2 comments:
1) So far, so good. LONG way from junior to regular NHL duty, especially for goalies. Took nearly 7 years before Ollie went from drafted prospect to regular in the Cap's goal
2) Having two guys who can develop certainly increases the odds.
As an intern for the Whalers, I've been able to see Neuvirth & Jeremy Smith become the best goalie tandem in the OHL this season. And he's so young! I definitely wish him the best whenever he makes it onto the Caps' roster.
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