Top 3 burning questions Capitals must answer in preseason

#2 Any potential moves to shed salary?

It’s very likely that the Capitals roster is subject to change soon. Per Cap Friendly, the Caps are six million over the salary cap. In fact they’re exactly $6,321,666 over the salary cap.

I think the defense is pretty much set up right now. But the forwards present a ton of questions. The team re-signed Marcus Johansson and have young guys like Axel Jonsson Fjallby and Connor McMichael on the roster.

The odd man out, at least in the summer rumors was Lars Eller. We’ll get more about McMichael on the next slide. But even if the Caps trade Eller before the season for some draft picks, he only carries a $3.5 million cap hit.

So even if Eller goes the Caps will still be at least three million over the salary cap so someone else may have to go. With Nicklas Backstrom, Carl Hagelin, and Tom Wilson all injured, their salary gets buried as they’re all on long term injured reserve.

So at least that doesn’t count against the Caps. But still being over six million in debt is alarming. Teams have until the start of the regular season to get back under the salary cap so it’s up to General Manager Brian MacLellan to determine who deserves to make the opening night roster and who should be let go.