Minor news post-practice here at Kettler Iceplex. The Caps signed right wing Dmitry Kugryshev to a three-year entry-level contract. The 20-year-old Russian has spent the past two seasons with the Quebec Ramparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He had 74 points in his rookie season in juniors. This year he’s made another solid leap with 83 points in 64 games. Kugryshev was the Caps’ second-round pick in 2008 at No. 58 overall. He was selected one spot behind Eric Mestery, the team’s first choice in that round.
The QMJHL is Canada’s third-best junior league after the WHL and the OHL – though stars like Sidney Crosby have come through its ranks over the years. It just doesn’t have the depth of top prospects. Kugryshev does have 28 goals, six shy of his total last season. His 83 points rank seventh overall in the “Q” and his 55 assists are fourth. He leads the Ramparts in points and assists. We’ll next see the 6-foot, 185-pound Kugryshev at AHL Hershey in the fall. He attended both the Caps’ rookie development camp last July and rookie training camp in September
