Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Ilya Samsonov on stage with team executives after being selected as the number twenty-two overall pick to the Washington Capitals in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Capitals hold the 26th overall pick at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. They could simply hold onto the pick given their recent history at that position, or decide to move it for a roster upgrade.

When the calendar hits June 24, the 54th annual NHL Entry Draft will kick off as the Toronto Maple Leafs hold the first overall pick. The Washington Capitals, however, will wait until the 26th overall slot to make their selection – if they make it at all.

In what is becoming a bit of a trend in Washington, they will make another late first round selection. This trend is generally good and bad. Good in that it shows that they are constantly a successful franchise, or else they wouldn’t be selecting so late, and bad in that the talent disparity from the beginning to the end of the first round is often pretty significant.

The Washington Capitals often draft in the 20’s nowadays, and it has been that way since the late 2000’s. Since the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, the Caps have made six selections in the 20’s, and four of those have gone on to form part of the current core of the team.

John Carlson was selected 27th overall in 2008, something that seems inexplicable in hindsight given his talent level. Marcus Johansson was selected 24th overall the next year, and Evgeny Kuznetsov was taken 26th overall in 2010. Andre Burakovsky has also made an impact after being taken 23rd overall in 2013.

While the Washington Capitals won’t be looking at an Auston Matthews or Patrik Laine at their position, it is clear that there will be plenty of talent that is available. Along the same lines, Ross Mahoney, the assistant GM in Washington, seems to always find a gem or two in each draft whether it is in the early or late rounds.

Because the Caps don’t hold a second or third round selection this year, the likelihood of them trading their first round pick is low. This is a team that built their way back into contention through strong drafting. The Capitals are all-in right now, but it would be extremely uncharacteristic of them to go into the draft with no picks in the top 110.

At the same time, it wouldn’t be completely surprising to see Brian MacLellan pull the trigger on a deal that brings in a strong, two-way center for the third line in exchange for that first round pick.

This time around, the Washington Capitals could look to steal a talented player who drops down the board. Tyler Benson, a left winger from the Vancouver Giants of the WHL would fit the bill here. His stock has taken a big hit this year due to injuries and some inconsistent play, but he is a player that could turn into a high-end player in the right environment.

On the other hand, the Caps could target a safer player such as Rasmus Asplund, a center out of Farjestad of the Swedish league. By all accounts, he is a strong two-way player that could fit the Capitals’ system very well a couple years down the road.

No matter what route the Washington Capitals take with their pick, the decision will likely come right down to the wire. If the right deal is available given this team’s needs, then the pick should certainly be expendable. However, if no deal comes along, there will almost certainly be a wealth of players available that the Caps will pounce on.