The 2025-26 NHL preseason has wrapped up for the Washington Capitals. Many experienced NHL players and up-and-coming talent have already gotten a taste of action on the ice. Now is the time to determine which players are safe, and which are on the bubble. The Capitals entered their final preseason game with 27 players on the roster. But with the roster getting trimmed to the final 23, who will make the cut?
Washington will submit its 23-man roster on Monday by 5 p.m.
Which Players Are Safe?
It’s pretty safe to say that veterans Alex Ovechkin, John Carlson, and Tom Wilson will make the Capitals’ roster. As will Connor McMichael, Dylan Strome, Pierre-Luc Dubois, etc.
The youngster Ryan Leonard will also suit up for Washington thanks to his rise to prominence. The 20-year-old made his Capitals debut late last season and is already a fan favorite. He lit up both training camp and preseason, where he recorded three points (two goals, one assist).
Offseason additions such as Justin Sourdif and Declan Chisholm will also make the roster. Sourdif will most likely be a fourth-line winger, while Chisholm will be the sixth or seventh blueliner.
Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren will also be the main goaltenders going forward. No further questions.
Which Players Are on the Bubble?
On Sunday, it was announced that both goaltender Clay Stevenson and forward Ethen Frank were placed on waivers.
Stevenson, 26, was already on the bubble because the Capitals already have their two goalies in Thompson and Lindgren. Stevenson has risen to prominence as one of the team’s promising future netminders. He will likely return to Hershey where he helped the Bears win a second consecutive Calder Cup in 2024.
Frank, 27, was also on the bubble due to heavy competition at the forward position. He was already a highlight player on Hershey, recording 28 points through 34 games last season. He eventually got called up by the Capitals and suited up for 24 games, picking up seven points. However, the competition up front through the preseason prevented him from maintaining his roster spot.
One player whose status is to be determined is Ivan Miroshnichenko. He wasn’t placed on waivers like Frank was, but could still be one of the final two cuts by Monday. The 21-year-old still needs to work on his play without the puck, despite a solid camp.
Vincent Iorio and Dylan McIlrath are also battling it out for the eighth defenseman position. However, with both McIlrath and Matt Roy suffering injuries, one or both of them will be placed on injured reserve. That would mean Iorio starts the season with a roster spot in Washington.
Which Players Deserve to Stay?
Two players that impressed throughout training camp and the preseason were Sonny Milano and Hendrix Lapierre. Both players were only on the Capitals for a little bit last season, but they deserve to make the final roster. With heavy competition at the forward position, they have more than deserved roster spots. Thankfully, neither player was placed on waivers like Stevenson and Frank were.
Milano, 29, played only three games in the 2024-25 season due to an upper-body injury. However, he made a statement this preseason by finishing with six points (four goals, two assists). He opened the first exhibition game against the Boston Bruins with four points (two goals, two assists).
Lapierre, 23, last suited up for Washington last December, and has spent time working on his game in Hershey. Based on his performance this preseason, he deserves a full-time return to the NHL. The 2020 first-round pick racked up seven points (one goal, six assists) in six exhibition games.
