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  6. article_body => "<p>The Capitals are one week&nbsp;into training camp with two preseason games already in the rearview mirror. The roster battles are coming into focus and some players are already staking their claims.<\/p>\n<p>So what will the final roster ultimately look like on opening day? Here's a projection based on what we have seen and heard through the first week:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Forwards (14)<\/strong><br>Andre Burakovsky - Nicklas Backstrom - T.J. Oshie<br>Alex Ovechkin - Evgeny Kuznetsov - Jakub Vrana<br>Brett Connolly - Lars Eller - Tom Wilson<br>Nathan Walker - Jay Beagle - Alex Chiasson<br>Anthony Peluso - Devante Smith-Pelly<\/p>\n<p><strong>Defensemen (7)<\/strong><br>Dmitry Orlov - Matt Niskanen<br>Aaron Ness - John Carlson<br>Brooks Orpik - Madison Bowey<br>Taylor Chorney<\/p>\n<p><strong>Goalies (2)<\/strong><br>Braden Holtby<br>Philipp Grubauer<\/p>\n<p>Notes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>According to Cap Friendly, this roster would put the Caps $40,000 over the salary cap. My caveat is that the salary cap is so complex that no one really knows exactly what a team's salary number is except for the team and the NHL. Cap Friendly is an incredibly useful tool, but it is a projection. A difference of $40,000 is well within the margin of error I consider to be realistic. for the Caps to make this roster fit under the cap.<\/li>\n<li>If the Caps can't make this work, don't be surprised to see them start with 22 players.<\/li>\n<li>Peluso is not talked about all that much, but the team needs Wilson to focus on his&nbsp;offense and not fighting. They need someone else to take that responsibility from his shoulders. Peluso may spend more time in Washington than you may think, even if he spends more games in the press box than on the ice.<\/li>\n<li>Chiasson played well in Washington's first preseason game and his versatility makes him attractive to Washington. In a pinch, he could play on the third line, perhaps even the second if needed. The only way it can really work in Washington, however, is if he agrees to sign for a league minimum $650,000 which you would think is certainly doable. He was without a job a few weeks ago, is he really going to haggle over price?<\/li>\n<li>Christian Djoos did not play particularly well in the team's first preseason game and given his size, the team will not simply give him a spot because they have a hole in the lineup. As of now, I would predict the Caps will send Djoos back to the AHL and hope his size will dissuade any potential poachers form snagging him. If he hopes to make the NHL roster, he needs to make an impactt with&nbsp;his next opportunity or he will almost certainly be back in the AHL.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>MORE CAPITALS: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.csnmidatlantic.com\/washington-capitals\/thumbs-thumbs-down-jakub-vrana-looks-every-bit-nhler\" target=\"_blank\">JAKUB VRANA MADE THE MOST OF HIS OPPORTUNITY MONDAY<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n"
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Capitals

Capitals

The Capitals are one week into training camp with two preseason games already in the rearview mirror. The roster battles are coming into focus and some players are already staking their claims.

So what will the final roster ultimately look like on opening day? Here's a projection based on what we have seen and heard through the first week:

Forwards (14)
Andre Burakovsky - Nicklas Backstrom - T.J. Oshie
Alex Ovechkin - Evgeny Kuznetsov - Jakub Vrana
Brett Connolly - Lars Eller - Tom Wilson
Nathan Walker - Jay Beagle - Alex Chiasson
Anthony Peluso - Devante Smith-Pelly

Defensemen (7)
Dmitry Orlov - Matt Niskanen
Aaron Ness - John Carlson
Brooks Orpik - Madison Bowey
Taylor Chorney

Goalies (2)
Braden Holtby
Philipp Grubauer

Notes:

  • According to Cap Friendly, this roster would put the Caps $40,000 over the salary cap. My caveat is that the salary cap is so complex that no one really knows exactly what a team's salary number is except for the team and the NHL. Cap Friendly is an incredibly useful tool, but it is a projection. A difference of $40,000 is well within the margin of error I consider to be realistic. for the Caps to make this roster fit under the cap.
  • If the Caps can't make this work, don't be surprised to see them start with 22 players.
  • Peluso is not talked about all that much, but the team needs Wilson to focus on his offense and not fighting. They need someone else to take that responsibility from his shoulders. Peluso may spend more time in Washington than you may think, even if he spends more games in the press box than on the ice.
  • Chiasson played well in Washington's first preseason game and his versatility makes him attractive to Washington. In a pinch, he could play on the third line, perhaps even the second if needed. The only way it can really work in Washington, however, is if he agrees to sign for a league minimum $650,000 which you would think is certainly doable. He was without a job a few weeks ago, is he really going to haggle over price?
  • Christian Djoos did not play particularly well in the team's first preseason game and given his size, the team will not simply give him a spot because they have a hole in the lineup. As of now, I would predict the Caps will send Djoos back to the AHL and hope his size will dissuade any potential poachers form snagging him. If he hopes to make the NHL roster, he needs to make an impactt with his next opportunity or he will almost certainly be back in the AHL.

 

MORE CAPITALS: JAKUB VRANA MADE THE MOST OF HIS OPPORTUNITY MONDAY