The Washington Capitals have selected forward Lynden Lakovic with the 27th overall pick at the 2025 NHL Draft Friday night at The Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

Lakovic spent the 2024-25 season with the Moose Jaw Warriors in the WHL, where he totalled 27 goals and 31 assists for 58 points in 47 games. The 18-year-old also represented the CHL against USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program Under-18 team in the inaugural CHL/USA Prospects Challenge, where he had two points in two games.

Lakovic missed time this season due to an upper-body injury, but despite the games missed, he still led the Warriors in goals and points. Lakovic earned the Moose Jaw Three Stars Award, Top Scorer, and Player of the Year honors at the Warriors Awards Night.

“He can play with an edge and with that competitive snarl around the puck,” said Warriors head coach Mark O’Leary.

Lakovic was ranked No. 25 by Daily Faceoff prospect analyst Steven Ellis in his Final Top 120. “Lakovic is so much fun to watch, and while he’s not putting up explosive offensive numbers, he reads plays so well and has an excellent shot. Things just seem to happen whenever he has the puck on the rush, and at 6-foot-4, he’s got tremendous size. Some scouts think he’s going to be more of a second-liner at best. He drives the play a bit like Dmitri Voronkov, but I’d like to see it more consistently. Some scouts think he’s not a good enough skater to go high in the draft, but I see the potential.”

The Kelowna, British Columbia product is expected to return to Moose Jaw for a fourth season. During the 2023-24 season, Lakovic helped the Warriors win the WHL Championship and appeared in four Memorial Cup games, notching one assist.

Throughout his WHL career, Lakvoic has tallied 47 goals and 104 points in 153 contests.