Andrew Cristall Continuing To Add Size & Strength, Confident In Chances To Make Capitals: 'I Can Push The Needle'
Washington Capitals prospect Andrew Cristall reflects on his growth and how he can make the NHL roster this coming season after cuoming so close last fall.
ARLINGTON, V.A. – Andrew Cristall is in a different spot with the Washington Capitals this week. Attending his third development camp, taking on more of a veteran and leadership role, and fittingly, using Alex Ovechkin’s stall in the locker room.
It’s another taste of the NHL, but for him, it’s a key step toward his ultimate goal: to finally crack the NHL roster come fall.
“I can push the needle pretty well,” Cristall noted.
The 20-year-old came as close as one can get last year, making it to the final round of cuts before the organization ultimately decided to send him back to the WHL so he could dominate juniors one last time and continue to develop rather than being rushed into the Show.
That proved to be the right choice; Cristall dominated the league, leading all skaters with 48 goals and 84 assists for 132 points in just 57 games. In 19 playoff games, he had 21 goals and 42 points, and ultimately, finished his WHL career with 412 points as he became the league’s first player this century to reach the 400-point mark.
“It was awesome for me,” Cristall said, adding, “It was really cool to learn that process of how you got to take care of yourself and the way you got to play in the playoffs to have success, just a really fun year.”
Beyond the offense, Cristall has also been busy building on other areas of his game. He’s put on quite a bit of muscle, and he’s also continued to take his skating to a whole new level while putting more emphasis on the smaller aspects of his game.
“Just being as ready as I can to try to come into camp and make the team. Just getting bigger, faster, stronger and just getting ready to win puck battles along the boards and just little details in the defensive zone, I think it will help me a lot in camp,’ Cristall noted.
As he looks toward training camp in the fall, the rising prospect isn’t putting too much pressure on himself or thinking back to how last season played out. Instead, it’s a clean slate, and what happens next is in his hands.
“(I’m) turning a whole new page, I have a whole new opportunity to make the team and put my best foot forward,” Cristall said. “Definitely a little bit of confidence from last year I can take into this year.”