Stars and Sticks
Fansided

Washington Capitals: Top 5 players to watch this preseason

By Michael Marzzacco

ARLINGTON, VA - JUNE 29: Capitals prospect goalie Ilya Samsonov during camp at Kettler Capitals Iceplex on June 29, 2016 in Arlington, Va. (Photo by Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, VA - JUNE 29: Capitals prospect goalie Ilya Samsonov during camp at Kettler Capitals Iceplex on June 29, 2016 in Arlington, Va. (Photo by Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 6
Next
BUFFALO, NEW YORK – JUNE 01: Connor McMichael poses for a portrait at HarborCenter on June 01, 2019 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Katie Friedman/NHLI via Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NEW YORK – JUNE 01: Connor McMichael poses for a portrait at HarborCenter on June 01, 2019 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Katie Friedman/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Washington Capitals preseason hockey is underway.

With one game under their belt and five more games to go, there are several Washington Capitals players worth keeping an eye on as each player tries to make a spot on the roster.

The Capitals preseason roster is massive and divided into three groups. One group will get to play in the game that night while the other two will scrimmage each other. It’s on a rotating basis as the Capitals will try to trim the roster before opening night.

The roster will likely begin to shrink during the team’s scheduled off day on Thursday. We should know the first round of roster cuts by the start of the weekend. All of Washington’s draft picks from the last few seasons as well as some stars on the Hershey Bears will be players you’ll see over the next two weeks.

WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 18: Goalie Ilya Samsonov #30 of the Washington Capitals tends the net against the Boston Bruins during the third period of a preseason NHL game at Capital One Arena on September 18, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 18: Goalie Ilya Samsonov #30 of the Washington Capitals tends the net against the Boston Bruins during the third period of a preseason NHL game at Capital One Arena on September 18, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

In the grand scheme of things, these six games do not matter in the standings, however, for young prospects chomping at the bit to make an NHL roster the preseason means everything.

The Capitals have to make decisions on not just who to include in their roster but how to get under the salary cap. Here are the five players to watch.

Home/Editorials