HERSHEY, PA — Walking into the underbelly of Giant Center, Andrew Cristall awaited my arrival by two red folding chairs. Wearing a black Washington Commanders sweatshirt, the emerging Capitals forward prospect had much to talk about after a whirlwind season that saw him put on jerseys for five different teams throughout the year.
“Roller coaster,” Cristall said when I asked him to sum up his year with one word. “It was a pretty up-and-down year. It was a lot of change, adjusting, adapting. But a whole lot of fun as well.”
Sporting a new gap-toothed smile due to an errant high stick he absorbed in February, Cristall posted huge numbers and had eye-opening success throughout the year. So much so that his name became an exciting topic for members of the organization — one compared his strengths and weaknesses to Nicklas Backstrom — and fans on social media, who see the forward prospect as another steal-of-a-draft-pick by the Caps front office. Where the 2023 second-round selection starts the 2025-26 season — either with the Washington Capitals or Hershey Bears — is a wildcard.
Cristall first began turning heads at Capitals training camp in September. After showcasing an improved skating stride, the Vancouver, British Columbia native’s skill and high hockey IQ were exhibited in four preseason games, where he finished tied for the team lead in preseason points (3) and second in goals (2).
Cristall remained on the Capitals’ training camp roster until October 7, the final day of the preseason, when Opening Night rosters were due.
“[We’re considering keeping him], for sure, because of the camp he’s had,” Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery said of the forward prospect on October 2. “He’s put himself in the spot that maybe, if you were looking before camp started, probably didn’t have him slotted to potentially make the team.”
While Cristall was ultimately returned to junior without making his NHL regular-season debut, he got tantalizingly close to realizing his dream. With a positive attitude, he made the most of his final year in the WHL. Cristall was named alternate captain of the Kelowna Rockets and jumped out to a huge start, tallying four or more points in six of his first 18 games. He scored his first of two hat tricks during the regular season on November 30 in a 9-1 victory over the Regina Pats.
On December 2, Cristall put on the third different sweater of his young season when Team Canada added him to their World Junior selection camp roster.
After practicing with the team for a week, Cristall was ultimately snubbed by Team Canada brass for a second consecutive year. Cristall watched from afar as the Canadian junior team didn’t medal and was upset by Czechia in the quarterfinals of the elimination tournament.
“Yeah, disappointing,” Carbery said of the snub then. “From all of our internal reports, he’s playing great.”
“I feel for him right now, but he’s got – if I could speak to him through here – he’s got big things ahead in his career and a lot to look forward to.”
Cristall returned to Kelowna for another month, jumping into second on the Rockets’ all-time scoring list, before his next setting change. With little hope of reaching the postseason, the Rockets dealt Cristall to the Spokane Chiefs for five different draft picks — a 1st-round pick in 2025, 1st-round pick in 2027, 2nd-round pick in 2026, 3rd-round pick in 2025, and 6th-round pick in 2026 — and forward Hayden Paupanekis. Cristall notched 60 points (26g, 34a) in 28 games before the trade.
“He’s one of the best players that’s ever played for the Rockets,” Rockets president and general manager Bruce Hamilton said in a statement. He added later, “I can’t remember a player other than maybe Jamie Benn or Leon Draisaitl that controlled the game like he did.”
Cristall managed to go to another level with the Chiefs in the latter half of the season, posting 72 points (22g, 50a) in 29 games. He tied his single-game career-high in points with 7 (3g, 4a) in his second appearance with Spokane — a 12-2 victory over the Wenatchee Wild.
He had four more games of five points or more, becoming the first player in the WHL to 100 points and ending the year with 48 goals, 84 assists, and 132 points in 57 games. He led the league in points, finished second in goals and assists, and became the first WHL player in the 21st century to reach 400 points in their career.
“I think just a lot of confidence,” Cristall said on his success in the WHL. “I’ve been in the league for a little bit now, and I haven’t figured it out per se, but I feel like I knew what I had to do to be able to play well and then score goals, and whatnot.”
Cristall continued his production in the playoffs, where he had 41 points (21g, 20a) in 19 games.
Good as ̶g̶o̶l̶d̶ Cristall 💎@Capitals prospect Andrew Cristall finished the 2025 WHL Playoffs tied for the most goals by a Chief in a single playoff run in franchise history with 21! His 41 points were only behind linemate Berkly Catton (42) in the postseason.#GoChiefsGo pic.twitter.com/q7sjtPW1gh
— Spokane Chiefs (@spokanechiefs) May 27, 2025
During a stretch from April 16 to May 1, Cristall scored goals in eight consecutive postseason games. The left wing finished just short of lifting a WHL championship as the Chiefs fell to the Medicine Hat Tigers in five games of the WHL finals. Highlights of Cristall’s postseason included a double overtime goal that sent the Chiefs to the Western Conference finals and an overtime buzzer-beater that gave Spokane a 3-2 series lead in the second round. He had two different postseason hat tricks.
Cristall got the call to be a black ace for the Hershey Bears on May 20 for a second consecutive year. He practiced several times with the team but ultimately did not make his AHL debut as the Bears, who were looking to three-peat, were swept out of the Atlantic Division Finals in three games by the Charlotte Checkers.
Andrew Cristall practicing with the Hershey Bears
📸: Jesse Liebman/Hershey Bears
Before leaving for summer, Cristall, a longtime friend of Connor Bedard, spoke to RMNB on Thursday, May 15 about his incredible year; what it was like meeting Alex Ovechkin and watching him break the NHL goals record; and how he’s going to attack the offseason. Below is the full interview.
RMNB Q&A with Andrew Cristall
Q: Andrew, nice to see you. Can you go through how you first got into Hershey after your playoffs ended in junior?
Andrew Cristall: Yeah, I mean, obviously ended in the WHL finals, and then a couple days later flew here on Sunday. Flew to Dallas from Spokane, and then a couple issues with the flights and stuff canceled in Dallas, so stayed over there overnight and ended up finally making it here Monday night. Yeah, that’s kind of the travel plans.
Q: How many actual practices did you end up having here with the Hershey Bears?
Andrew Cristall: I just had one practice on Tuesday and then just the morning skate quick on Wednesday.
Q: Was it a little disappointing just because there was a possibility you could have even suited up in a Bears playoff game?
Andrew Cristall: Yeah, I mean, maybe, yeah. I think there’s definitely the chance that would happen. So obviously it was hope for the boys to win, not just for myself, but for them, too, and just for the team. But, you know, that’s hockey. It is what it is, and just move on.
Q: So, one thing I wanted to ask you was if you could sum up your entire year in one word, what would that be? Because, wow, it’s been pretty good.
Andrew Cristall: If it was one word, roller coaster. I’ll make that into one word, maybe two words. But, yeah, it was a pretty up-and-down year. It was a lot of change, adjusting, adapting. But a whole lot of fun as well. So I think that’s kind of the one I’d use.
Q: So you almost made the Capitals out of training camp, which was incredible. You were one of their better performers during the preseason. What was that experience like just coming out of there? Did you even think that you could get that far that soon?
Andrew Cristall: Yeah, I wasn’t sure. I think I definitely had the self-belief, but, you know, you never really know until you get there. And, yeah, it was a blast. It was a lot of fun to play with those guys on the ice and be there for that long, get to know them a little bit. They treated me so well – from the coaches, players, everybody. So it was a lot of fun. I was obviously close to the goal, but I still had a great year back in junior, but it was a lot of fun in camp.
Q: One of the things, too, was that you were on the ice with Ovi in the preseason, then, let’s see, six, seven, eight months later, he breaks the NHL goals record. How crazy is that?
Andrew Cristall: Yeah, it’s pretty mind-blowing. It’s pretty special to share the ice with him in practice and games. I think we might have been on the same power play unit for a game or something.
Q: What was that like?
Andrew Cristall: It was pretty crazy. It was just kind of getting him the puck as much as possible. But, no, it’s pretty cool, and he’s such a great person and great teammate. He was super nice to me and welcomed me with open arms. And it’s pretty special to share the ice with the greatest goal-scorer ever.
Q: When did you first find out that he broke the goals record? Because I’ve heard a few different answers that are kind of funny. Like, I think Ilya Protas was at a Detroit Tigers game.
Andrew Cristall: Yeah, I was watching the game. I think I might have had a game the night before or something, and they played an early one out in Pacific because I think it was a matinee in New York. Woke up early at 9 am to watch the game.
Q: Oh, really?
Andrew Cristall: Yeah, I was watching. Couldn’t miss it. So it was pretty cool when he got it. And, you know, the celly was great.
Q: I’ve also heard throughout the years tons of great stories about how engaging of a leader Ovechkin is and how friendly he is, especially to the young guys. Like, do you recall anything, like, when you first arrived during training camp or anything, where you’re just like, wow, this guy’s a little bit different. He’s so normal, right?
Andrew Cristall: Yeah, well, when I originally got drafted and headed right to development camp right after that, I think he was still in the building or something like that. I was just kind of walking in, and he came up to me, shook my hand, kind of congratulated me. I definitely wasn’t expecting that. I was expecting just to walk by and kind of stare at him and have my jaw drop a little bit. But, yeah, he’s just super nice and talks to everybody, and he’s just such a great person, obviously, unbelievable player.
Q: I know that I’ve heard from plenty of different people that your skating stride this year has improved continuously. What would you say has gone into that from here for the last couple years?
Andrew Cristall: Yeah, I think just work and repetition. I have a really good power skating coach back home in Vancouver, and just kind of working with her, I think it’s helped a lot. I just kind of feel like I’m getting stronger, which definitely helps a lot, and just confidence in my skating as well. I think all those things kind of tie into it, just, you know, performing better and doing better at it. But, I mean, still a lot of work to go, and I’m far from where I want to be eventually, and in four months, when training camp comes again. But, yeah, I think it’s been a good improvement, but I’m still looking to get better at it.
Q: What would you say went into your dominant year this year in junior? Like, we were covering your hat tricks. It was almost mind-blowing for us just watching you, how many points you were putting up with ease, almost. Like, what would you say went into that?
Andrew Cristall: Yeah, I mean, a lot of great teammates.
Q: Might be you, too.
Andrew Cristall: Yeah, a little bit maybe. But, yeah, I think just a lot of confidence. I’ve been in the league for a little bit now, and I haven’t figured it out per se, but I feel like I knew what I had to do to be able to play well and then score goals, and whatnot. And just a lot of confidence and great teammates as well.
Q: I know midseason you got traded to Spokane, and it is always crazy to see how many draft picks go to the other side just to make one of those big deals happen.
Andrew Cristall: Yeah, a little bit. It’s always kind of intriguing what you’re going to receive, I guess, in the trade market or whatever. But when I got traded, it was definitely mixed emotions. Obviously, I’m happy that Kelowna got a decent return, and I’m happy that I got to play pretty well in Spokane. So hopefully they both think it was a good deal. But, yeah, it’s pretty cool to kind of see that stuff and kind of look back on it.
Q: You had an eight-game goal streak in the playoffs, which, again, is something I’ve never seen before. Again, it’s mind-boggling the numbers you put up during the regular season and the playoffs. And then you got to the finals. You guys kind of hit a wall in the finals. What happened there?
Andrew Cristall: Yeah, I think a mix of a few things. I think just not capitalizing on our chances and credit to their defense and their goalie. I think we had a lot of good looks that maybe just didn’t find the back of the net like they were before. A lot of posts, I think, and just kind of bounces like that. And the other team, Medicine Hat, credit to them. They were really good at executing on their chances. And in a best seven series, like in the finals, you’re not going to get a ton of looks. So when you get them, you’ve got to make sure they go in. I just think for us, maybe they all didn’t go in. It’s kind of that’s that.
Q: That makes you even hungrier, right? Because you’re that close to winning a championship. So when you got here, working with people with the Bears and even the Caps, despite Hershey’s playoff run kind of ending a little bit sooner. What were they looking for you to work on here, and what was the experience like?
Andrew Cristall: Yeah, it was great. Obviously, it was a little bit of a short time, but when I got here, they were just letting me know, like just go out there and do your thing and practice and work hard and just stay ready, I think, is kind of the message. But, you know, all year I’ve been talking with Caps player development guys and things like that. They reach out to me a lot and let me know if there’s something I did well, something I need to work more at, and just kind of checking in to see how everything’s going. They’re really good at communicating with me, and it helped me a lot throughout the year.
Q: Who’s that main contact?
Andrew Cristall: Yeah, mainly it was probably Jimmy Slater. And then, I mean, Olie (Kolzig) lives out there, so he would come to a lot of my games, almost every one of my playoff games and whatnot, so I’d see him after some of the games, and he was always really good to chat with. I mean, when you chat with a guy like that, it’s pretty cool. So, yeah, I mean, Slates was the main guy for, I think, forwards out of the group, but all of them definitely reach out.
Q: Looking into the summer, what are the things that you want to work on going into next year to maybe have an even bigger year and start out in the NHL?
Andrew Cristall: Yeah, I think for me the main thing would be pace and putting on weight, I think. You know, in the NHL, I think it’s played at a much higher pace, and it’s a lot faster. So I think if I can make plays in speed and keep working on my stride and my skating, I think it’ll help a lot. And then, obviously, just kind of keep growing my body and working out and putting on some weight to kind of help in the corners and the little details in the defensive zone will help me kind of go play offense. So that’s kind of the main thing.
Q: Being here, too, when I was chatting with some of the other guys, there’s kind of like a youth underneath the Caps currently that is really exciting. Ilya Protos, Cole Hutson, Terik Parascak. Ryan Leonard, he was here at Giant Center last night. How excited does that make you just to see how much talent that’s kind of bubbling up in the background here?
Andrew Cristall: Yeah, it’s pretty cool. I think there’s a lot of great players, and they’re all really great guys as well. It’s pretty cool to kind of go through these ranks with them. And a guy like Ilya, who I’m here with right now, he’s an awesome kid, awesome player. And obviously Ryan and Terik and Cole and all these guys, it’s pretty cool. So hopefully we can all make that jump soon and play on the same team together. But it’s great so far for the Caps and for us to kind of keep getting better, competing with each other, and growing.
Q: A few other things, like when you first met Spencer Carbery, what was your first impressions of him?
Andrew Cristall: Yeah, I mean, they were awesome. He’s super nice. You know, he was really chatty, like talking to me about not just hockey, but life and, you know, how my summer was and congratulating me on the draft when I met him after that. I mean, during the training camps, he seemed super smart. He really cares about all the guys. He really cares about hockey, and he just wants everybody to succeed and do the best they can. So when I was there, he treated me so well and with so much respect and, you know, gave me the opportunity playing those preseason games and just kind of chatting with him on what needs to be done to make the NHL and that kind of stuff. It was pretty cool and eye-opening. I think he was great, and it was awesome.
Q: And goals, like, weight-wise, is that something that they – is that something that’s always being hammered into you too, just put on more weight, put on more muscle mass?
Andrew Cristall: Yeah, I think, I mean, not like too much, per se.
Q: Do you have a goal this summer for that?
Andrew Cristall: Yeah, I think not maybe a goal on a number, but just kind of keep getting stronger. I think you could be 185 and super strong, or you could be 195 and super strong. I don’t think it’s a huge difference. Obviously, I want to be the strongest I can at a weight that I can still move and be fast and agile. But they don’t really tell me a specific number. They just kind of want to see it grow and, you know, me to get as strong as I can. So, I’ll be looking to do that, for sure.
Q: What is that like for a prospect? Like, walk me through it. A blogger eats differently than a potential NHL athlete. So what are the things that you kind of, like, do? Like, are you hitting protein shakes every day?
Andrew Cristall: Yeah, I mean, protein shakes, chicken protein, like, carbs, steak. Lots of Chipotle, yeah. So just kind of things like that, especially when you’re on the go in the summer when you’ve got ice and you’re working out, you need to be eating in between before or after. You need to be really diligent on that. There’s a great support staff here that helps with that. But, yeah, it’s a 24-7 thing with, just as much as you’re working out, you’ve got to eat and put good things in your body.
Q: The last thing I wanted to ask you, I don’t know if you’ve seen how excited a lot of fans are for you, but on social media, Twitter, Caps fans always bring you up as a guy they’re super, super excited about. D you notice it? Does it make you excited? I mean, you’ve had Team Canada not bring you on, but the belief here, talking to coaches here, everybody is very very excited about you if you end up here in Hershey or in Washington next year, what does that mean to you to have that belief?
Andrew Cristall: Yeah, it’s pretty special. I think it’s awesome, whether I was at training camps or up here, there’s people kind of stopping me and saying hi or talking to me and wishing me good luck and having that belief in me. So, it means a lot, kind of shows how passionate the fan base is here in Hershey and in Washington, and how much they care, and you know how much they’re into it. So, it means a lot. It only makes me want to get better, play better, and eventually make the team. So, yeah, it’s really cool, and it’s something I don’t take lightly.