Capitals Bring Roster Down to 23 Players with Final Moves

Vrana played in 284 games during his first stint with Washington. He scored 76 goals and registered 81 assists for 157 points. He was also a member of the 2018 Stanley Cup championship team.

McIlrath Makes the Defense

The defense is also solidified for this upcoming campaign. One of the defensemen in training camp who had gained attention was Dylan McIlrath. He captained both of the back-to-back Calder Cup championship teams for the Hershey Bears in 2023 and 2024. The Bears will need a new captain now, as McIlrath is not leaving D.C. He joins a blue line that also consists of John Carlson, Jakob Chychrun, Rasmus Sandin, Matt Roy, Trevor van Riemsdyk, Martin Fehervary, and Alexander Alexeyev. Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery discussed McIlrath earlier in training camp and the fact that he was making a push for a roster spot.

Carbery said, “He definitely is, and based on what he did last year for us, when he played, and based on his training camp, and based on what he’s done in Hershey, and all the intangibles…he probably said it best to me earlier in camp. He feels like his game individually…he feels like he’s just gotten better and better and better as he’s gotten older, which is a great quality…He feels like he’s a better defenseman than he was when he started.”

Carbery also added on McIlrath, “…He’s a physical guy. Will stand up for his teammates. Has a presence about him. People around the league know who he is and have to be aware of him when he’s out on the ice. And I think, too, he’s just such a great personality and person to be around…”

Alexeyev Also Makes Washington’s Blue Line

Alexander Alexeyev was another defender who I discussed as a possible talent to take one of the available defensemen positions. The 24-year-old has suited up in parts of three campaigns already for the organization. In 72 games, he has a goal and seven assists for eight points. Alexeyev will be potentially taking that next step in 2024-25. Carbery and his staff will have to decide how often they want to rotate him in the lineup. This could be a big season for him, especially if he is able to get a substantial amount of NHL games under his belt.

Two Goalies on the Capitals

Washington will go with Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren as their netminders to start 2024-25. Hunter Shepard remained at Capitals training camp until he was waived on Sunday. Now, it will be interesting how Carbery chooses to use both Thompson and Lindgren. Thompson discussed the goalie competition on Friday. It was something he was used to when he was with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Thompson said, “…I’m really kind of used to it by now. I mean I think every year in Vegas, there’s always a goalie battle it seemed like. There’s always something going on in that department. So, I am used to it from that standpoint. From coming in here…obviously, I know that me, Chuckie, and Shep are all up and, you know, I just want to be a good teammate. I want to do my part and do what I can to help this team win when I’m in net, and when Chuckie is playing, I want to be his biggest cheerleader and support him. I think that’s kind of my goal this season. Just being a good teammate. Not worrying about things off-ice or on the ice, and just letting everything happen…”

The Capitals play their first regular season matchup on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. against the New Jersey Devils. Their divisional opponent already has two wins in the regular season, as they defeated the Buffalo Sabres in back-to-back matchups while in Prague. It will not be long before Washington fans know which goalie Carbery puts in for that game.