Harry Lichtman
The Washington Capitals continued to add more depth on Day 2 of the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo. The team already selected Finnish center Oliver Suvanto on Friday night.
Capitals Trade Up for Tyus Sparks in Fourth Round
The Capitals moved up early in the fourth round to select winger Tyus Sparks with the 101st pick. The team sent the No. 112 pick and a 2028 fifth-rounder to Columbus as a result.
Sparks recorded 65 points (28 goals, 37 assists) in 69 games with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants and Spokane Chiefs this past season. The 18-year-old led Spokane in scoring at the end of the season and ranked second in assists and power-play goals.
Sparks has shown physicality and speed on the ice while being useful on the forecheck. He also has a wicked shot and ability to generate chances out of nowhere.
The Idaho native comes from a sports family as his father was a CFL quarterback. Sparks did grow up playing football before switching to hockey full-time.
Capitals Select Brian McFadden in Sixth Round
Next up, the Capitals selected defenseman Brian McFadden with the No. 144 pick in the fifth round. This pick helps the team in terms of the right side of the defense corps.
Standing at 6-foot-5, McFadden is also very physical and plays a shutdown game. The blueliner works hard and can keep his opponents to the outside.
Most recently, McFadden played high school hockey at Thayer Academy, where he had 17 points (two goals, 15 assists) in 29 games. The 18-year-old is committed to play at Northeastern.
Logan Stuart Gets Selected in Seventh Round
Finally, the Capitals wrapped up the draft by selecting forward Logan Stuart with the 208th pick in the seventh round.
Stuart most recently played the last two seasons in the USA’s national team development program. He will now play for the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes next season.
Last year, Stuart recorded 45 points (13 goals, 32 assists) in 80 games with the program, including 23 in the USHL. The 18-year-old also played for Team USA at the under-18 World Junior Championship, scoring one goal in five contests.
The Manhattan Beach, California native is the son of Brad Stuart, who played more than 1,000 games in the NHL. Coincidentally, Logan was drafted in the same city as his father was in 1998.
