Washington Capitals
· 2026-06-27
The Washington Capitals selected forward Oliver Suvanto with the 18th overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft on Friday.
Suvanto, 17, was ranked first among international centers and third among all international skaters by NHL Central Scouting.
The 6’3”, 213-pound center spent the 2025-26 season with Tappara of Liiga, recording 11 points in 48 games.
He also appeared in three games with Tappara’s junior team, scoring three goals.
Suvanto’s 11 points were the most by a player age 17 or younger playing in Finland’s top professional league last season.
He won the Esa Peltonen Award as the league’s top forward and guided Tappara to a league championship.
The Turku, Finland native represented his country at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship and the 2026 IIHF Under-18 World Championship.
He scored two goals in seven games at the World Junior Championship, helping Finland reach the bronze medal game.
The Washington Capitals are currently standing 9th in the Eastern Conference with a 43-30 record, on a W4 streak.
Suvanto is the second Finnish player the Capitals have drafted in the first round in franchise history.
He has also represented Finland at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the 2024 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
The Capitals have selected a center with their first-round pick for the 18th time in franchise history.