After a successful Phase I Draft on Monday, the Capitols now turn the page to the Phase II Draft on Tuesday. Unlike the Phase I Draft, where teams were restricted to just the 2008-birth year class, all players who are age eligible to play junior hockey.
The Capitols will need to draft 14 players on Tuesday to get to 45 players on the teams IPL (Initial Protected List). Teams will draft a different amount of players depending on their need to get to 45 on their IPL.
How does Madison get to the 45 number? The Capitols ended the season with 21 players on their affiliated list, which are immediately put on the team's IPL. Adding in the tender of Jet Kwajah and the nine picks in the Phase I Draft, that leaves Madison with 14 vacant spots on their IPL.
Last year's Phase II Draft was a successful one for the Caps with eight of the team's first ten selections ending the season on the active roster. This group of players included the team's leading scorer in 2023-24, Austin Burnevik, and the team's top goalie, Carsen Musser. This shows the impact that players in the Phase II Draft can have.
The Capitols hold a lot of draft capital in the first four rounds of this draft. In fact, with eight picks, Madison has the most picks in the first four rounds of the draft. This includes holding picks from Green Bay, Sioux City, Tri-City, and Youngstown that were acquired in trades throughout the last two seasons.
Eleven Caps players from the roster last season had their USHL career start with the Phase II Draft. This includes the longest tenured Capitol, Brendan Lamb, who was selected in the fourth round in 2021.
In the past couple of drafts, players taken high in the Phase II Draft have done well for the Capitols. Each season, there are always a few players that stand out statistically for Madison drafted in the first three rounds of the Phase II Draft. Some of those players are noted below:
Knowing that impact players can be found in the Phase II Draft, it's destined to be an exciting day. Heading into Tuesday, here are the Capitols projected fourteen picks:
- 1st Round: 9th Overall
- 2nd Round: 25th Overall (SC)
- 2nd Round: 26th Overall (YNG)
- 3rd Round: 37th Overall (TC)
- 3rd Round: 39th Overall
- 3rd Round: 42nd Overall (GB)
- 4th Round: 52nd Overall (TC via WAT)
- 4th Round: 54th Overall
- 5th Round: 69th Overall
- 6th Round: 84th Overall
- 8th Round: 114th Overall
- 9th Round: 129th Overall
- 10th Round: 144th Overall
- 11th Round: 159th Overall
Coverage for the Phase II Draft can be found on the USHL's YouTube page as well as by following along with the Capitols social media accounts. The draft is scheduled to start at 10:00 am CT.
Although the season may be done, we still encourage you to stay connected with the Madison Capitols on social media and the team's official website for the latest updates, news, and behind-the-scenes content.
Visit the Capitols website: madcapshockey.com
Engage with the Capitols on X: @madcapshockey
Like the Capitols on Facebook: facebook.com/madcapshockey
Follow the Capitols on Instagram: @madcapshockey
