Andy Devlin

Alexander Alexeyev gets drafted by the Washington Capitals

The WHL saw another defenseman get selected at the 2018 NHL Entry Draft when the Washington Capitals took Red Deer Rebels blue liner Alexander Alexeyev with the 31st pick – the last in the first round.

Red Deer has quite the recent history of developing defensemen into top-three round picks. Josh Mahura was taken in the third round of the 2016 draft and before him, Haydn Fleury went seventh overall in 2014. Mathew Dumba also went seventh in 2012. Alexeyev joins that elite group.

Alexeyev also keeps the streak alive for Red Deer as they have now had a player taken in every draft they have existed for. This now dates 26 entry drafts, which is four years short of the record held by the Saskatoon Blades (1972-2001).

Alexeyev is the 60th player drafted from Red Deer and the 13th to be a first round pick. Their previous ones are: Jesse Wallin (1996-26th), Lance Ward (1996-10th), Mike Brown (1997-20th), Jeff Woywitka (2001-27th), Colby Armstrong (2001-21st), Cam Ward (2002-25th), Boyd Gordon (2002-17th), Dion Phaneuf (2003-ninth), Brandon Sutter (2007-11th), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (2011-first), Mathew Dumba (2012-seventh), Haydn Fleury (2014-seventh).

The import from Russia was taken in the 2016 CHL Import Draft by Red Deer after helping his country take the Silver Medal at the U17 tournament. Alexeyev had an injury shortened rookie season but still found a way to contribute 21 points in 41 games.

He bounced back in 2017-18 and had 37 points in 45 games. He played through a tough situation with a death in the family during the season. Alexeyev and Red Deer were bounced out in the first round by Lethbridge but the blue liner had five points in just three playoff games.

His late-birthday helped Alexeyev impress more, but again his season was cut short this year. The Capitals may have gotten a steal here in the six-foot-four, 196 pound d-man.