Washington Capitals News

It looks like Lindgren will get the nod in the crease for the Capitals' season opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins as Darcy Kuemper is away from the team for the birth of his son. Lindgren struggled in his first season with the Capitals, posting a 3.05 GAA and .899 SV% in 31 appearances (13-11-3). The Capitals will be facing a hungry Penguins squad that was held to just two goals in their season-opening loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. Clay Stevenson was recalled from the Hershey Bears of the AHL and will likely serve as backup to Lindgren.

Protas was the odd man out of the Capitals' roster and has been loaned to Hershey (AHL) Friday as they had to call up a third goaltender due to Darcy Kuemper leaving for the birth of his child. The 22-year-old forward is expected to return to Washington as Kuemper also returns and will be looking to build off his four goal, 11 assist, and 83 SOG campaign in 2022-23 across 58 games played.

Amidst the news that Darcy Kuemper may be absent from the Capitals matchup Friday vs. Pittsburgh due to the birth of his child, Clay Stevenson has been recalled from the Hershey Bears (AHL). The 24-year-old netminder was signed as an undrafted free-agent out of Dartmouth Collect (NCAA) ahead of the 2022-23 and has yet to make an NHL appearance. In his first season in the minor leagues he posted a 19-12-3 record with a .916 SV% and a 2.54 GAA for the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL) in 2022-23. He is expected to backup Charlie Lindgren if Kuemper is unable to go.

Thompson was 21-13-3 with a .915 SV% and a 2.65 GAA in an injury-riddled 2022-23 with Vegas and will start their second game of the season Thursday in San Jose. The 26-year-old is entering his third NHL season and is expected to split starting time with Adin Hill throughout the season. He draws the San Jose Sharks on the road, who struggled to score in 2022-23 and finished 25th in goals for (233) and 25th in shots per game (29.5).

Sourdif was sent to Charlotte (AHL) earlier this week but has been recalled Tuesday to provide forward depth. The 23-year-old had seven goals, 17 assists, 32 PIMs, and a -4 plus/minus through 48 games played with Charlotte (AHL) in 2022-23. He has yet to make his NHL debut after being draft in the third round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft (87th overall).

Wilson had 13 goals, nine assists, 82 SOG, 78 PIMs and a -13 plus/minus through 33 games with Washington in 2022-23 after starting the year late due to a knee injury and has signed a seven-year, $45.5 million contract extension ($6,500,000). The 29-year-old bruising right-winger was a 2012 first-round pick (16th overall) and has amassed 128 goals, 295 points and 1,299 PIMs through 680 career games

Cristall had 29 goals, 56 assists, 50 PIMs and a +18 plus/minus through 54 games with Kelowna (WHL) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Washington. The 18-year-old left-winger was drafted in the second-round of the 2023 NHL draft (40th overall) and is expected to return to junior for the 2023-24 season.

Fehervary had six goals, 10 assists, 91 SOG, 31 PIMs and a -11 plus/minus through 67 games in 2022-23 and has signed a three-year, $8.025 Million contract extension ($2,675,000 AAV). The 23-year-old defenseman has played in 152 career NHL games played, picking up 14 goals and 34 points after being drafted in the second round (46th overall) in 2018 by the Capitals.

Dube had 16 goals, 16 assists, 30 PIMs and a +10 plus/minus through 44 games played with Laval (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, two-way entry level contract with Washington worth an AAV of $870,000. The French international representative has yet to make his NHL debut after being signed as an undrafted free agent from Shawinigan (QMJHL) after the 2021-22 season.

McIlrath had an assist, one SOG, seven PIMs and a -6 plus/minus through six games with Washington in 2022-23 and has re-signed a two-year, two-way contract extension with the Capitals. The 31-year-old defenseman has played in 72 career NHL games played, with three goals and three assists along with 128 PIMs during that span.

Holl had two goals, 16 assists, 60 SOG, 39 PIMs and a +15 plus/minus through 80 games with Toronto in 2022-23 and has signed a three-year contract worth $10.2 million ($3.4M AAV) in Detroit. The 31-year-old undrafted defenseman joined the Maple Leafs in 2017-18 and has scored 11 goals and 82 points with a +58 plus/minus in 285 career NHL games since.

Kampf has proven to be an effective shutdown, bottom-6 centre in Toronto, but has only tallied 53 points (18G / 35A) in 164 games over the last two seasons.

Dubois had 27 goals, 36 assists, 205 SOG, 77 PIMs and a +5 plus/minus through 73 games played with Winnipeg in 2022-23 and has been traded to the Los Angeles Kings for Gabe Vilardi, Alex Iafallo, Rasmus Kupari and a 2nd Rd pick. The 25-year-old centre has signed a eight-year, $68 Million ($8,500,000 AAV) contract with the Los Angeles Kings.

Dubois had 27 goals, 36 assists, 205 SOG, 77 PIMs and a +5 plus/minus through 73 games played with Winnipeg in 2022-23 and has been traded to the Los Angeles Kings for Gabe Vilardi, Alex Iafallo, Rasmus Kupari and a 2nd Rd pick. The 25-year-old centre will be joining his third NHL team after picking up 302 points (129G/173A) in 434 games played through six seasons.

Belpedio had eight goals, 19 assists, 81 PIMs and a -1 plus/minus through 70 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL) and has signed a two-year, two-way contract ($775,000 AAV) through 2024-25. The 27-year-old journeyman has played in four NHL games across his career, picking up two assists.

Washington picked Miroshnichenko in the first round (No.20 overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft. The 19-year-old winger spent the 2023 season in the KHL, where he had four points (3G / 1A) in 23 games for Omsk Avangard.

Häman Aktell was originally a fourth-round pick of the Predators in 2016 but never signed. He remained in Sweden, where he had 36 points (9G / 27A) in 51 games with Vaxjo HC (SHL) during the 2023 season.

Dunne spent most of the season with Cleveland (AHL), where he tallied 20 goals and 17 assists (37 points) in 65 games. He appeared in eight NHL games this season and 14 total in his career, but has yet to record a point with the Blue Jackets.