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Washington Capitals: Top 5 players to watch this preseason

ByMichael 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)
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WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 06: Chandler Stephenson #18 of the Washington Capitals skates with the puck against Johnny Boychuk #55 of the New York Islanders in the first period at Capital One Arena on April 6, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 06: Chandler Stephenson #18 of the Washington Capitals skates with the puck against Johnny Boychuk #55 of the New York Islanders in the first period at Capital One Arena on April 6, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)

#2 Chandler Stephenson

Usually the preseason players to watch list includes many high profile prospects you otherwise won’t get to see in the 82-game regular season. For Chandler Stephenson though, he’s fighting for his spot on the roster. It doesn’t help his case that the Capitals signed not one but two fourth line forwards in the offseason.

RALEIGH, NC – APRIL 15: Chandler Stephenson #18 of the Washington Capitals and Justin Williams #14 of the Carolina Hurricanes battle for position prior to the face-off in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 15, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – APRIL 15: Chandler Stephenson #18 of the Washington Capitals and Justin Williams #14 of the Carolina Hurricanes battle for position prior to the face-off in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 15, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)

Stephenson struggled last season with just 11 points (5 goalls, 6 assists) in 64 games, a drop off from the 18-point season he had in 2017-18, his rookie season. Stephenson began the summer as a restricted free agent (RFA) and took his contract situation all the way to a neutral arbitrator. He was awarded a $1.05-million extension.

The good news for Stephenson is that he has a chance to compete for the third line center spot for at least the first three games with the Evgeny Kuznetsov suspension. Though he’ll go up against Travis Boyd and other prospects who are chomping at the bit for their first taste of NHL action.

Once Kuznetsov is back though, the Capitals will have to deal with the reality of trying to get under the salary cap. Part of this contract Stephenson signed is so Washington is able to take his full salary off the books to send him down to Hershey. The better Stephenson plays, and he was in action Monday night, the harder this decision will be.

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