The Washington Capitals traded up in the fourth round of the 2026 NHL Draft to select forward Tyus Sparks at 101st overall. The Caps sent the Columbus Blue Jackets their fourth-round pick (112 overall) and San Jose’s 2028 fifth-round pick to jump up 11 spots.
Sparks, 18, is an Idaho native who split the 2025-26 WHL season between the Vancouver Giants and the Spokane Chiefs.
Capitals select Tyus Sparks with 101st overall pick in 2026 NHL Draft
In 69 total games this past year, Sparks recorded 65 points (28g, 37a) and added three points (2g, 1a) in five playoff games for the Chiefs. He finished the regular season with more points than any other Chiefs skater and was second in assists and power-play goals (8).
NHL Central Scouting had the 6-foot, 190-pound Sparks listed as the 37th-best North American skater in their final rankings. He will attempt to become only the third NHL player ever to be born in Idaho and the first since Guyle Fielder, who last played for the Detroit Red Wings during the 1957-58 campaign.
Sparks’ father, Nate Sparks, was a quarterback at Boise State and for the British Columbia Lions in the CFL. His mother, Debbie Sparks, was a gymnast at Boise State. To make sure their son could play against better competition, the family commuted 10 hours back and forth across the border to Vancouver.
During his meeting with the media, Sparks said his favorite player growing up was Patrice Bergeron. He compared his own play to that of current Utah Mammoth winger Dylan Guenther.
The Capitals have used their first two picks in this year’s draft on forwards after selecting Finnish center Oliver Suvanto with the 18th overall pick in Friday’s first round.