Caps Select Alexander Alexeyev in the First Round of the 2018 NHL Draft

The Washington Capitals selected defenseman Alexander Alexeyev with the 31st overall selection in the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft on Friday at American Airlines Center in Dallas.

Alexeyev, 18, was ranked ninth overall among North American defensemen by NHL Central Scouting. The St. Petersburg, Russia, native spent the 2017-18 season with the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Alexeyev led Red Deer defensemen with 37 points (7g, 30a) and recorded 29 penalty minutes in 45 games. The 6'4", 196-pound defenseman also added another five points (2g, 3a) in three playoff games.

In 86 career WHL games, all with Red Deer, Alexeyev has recorded 58 points (11g, 47a) and 53 penalty minutes.
Alexeyev has represented Russia at the 2016 Under-18 World Championship and the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial. Additionally, Alexeyev recorded four assists in six games during the Under-17 Hockey Challenge in 2015 en route to winning a silver medal.

Twenty of Washington's first-round picks in team history have been defensemen, the most of any position, and the Capitals have selected a defenseman with their first pick of the draft in three-consecutive drafts. Additionally, Alexeyev is the 18th player the Capitals have selected in the first round from the WHL, the most of any other league.