The Washington Capitals signed 17-year-old Finnish center Oliver Suvanto, the 18th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, to a three-year entry-level contract with a $1.075 million cap hit at the NHL level and $87,500 in the AHL. He is expected to be loaned back to Tappara of Finland’s Liiga for the 2026-27 season, continuing his development in his home country. Suvanto stood out in Liiga last season with 11 points in 48 games, the top mark among players under 18 in the league, and he has international experience with Finland at youth and junior levels. The Capitals described Suvanto as a big, skilled center (6’3”, 213 pounds) who models his game after Aleksander Barkov, and he becomes the franchise’s second-first-round Finnish draftee in two decades. He is projected to join North American pro hockey in 2027, seeking a training camp spot with the Capitals or a start in the AHL with the Hershey Bears.