Depth Forward Spots For Capitals Up For Grabs

One of the intriguing parts of the Washington Capitals last two preseason games will be the depth forwards they decide to carry, as while most of the forward depth is set, a couple of spots remain open.

While the Capitals haven’t said if they would carry 13 or 14 forwards on the roster – or if a spot would be open for an injury – waiver status will likely play a role on who makes the initial roster, even though that could be subject to change before the team’s opener in Raleigh on October 2nd.

Two of Washington’s standouts in preseason are two of the forwards on the bubble, as Jonny Brodzinski and Ivan Miroshnichenko have combined for four goals and an assist in two games.

Brodzinski, who scored once in Boston and added two more in Hershey, isn’t eligible to appear in either of the two preseason games remaining due to the new CBA rules, but he played 55 games with the Rangers last season and is a proven veteran depth forward who also spent time at the AHL level with Hartford.

At 33, he would be required to pass through waivers, and clearly could be an option for a club looking for a forward with an inexpensive one-year, one-way deal for $850,000.

Despite injuries up front last season, Miroshnichenko played sparingly when called up, appearing in just 13 games and recording 3 points, with 2 goals coming in Washington’s visit to Salt Lake City. He averaged less than 10 minutes a game when he dressed, so was used sparingly by Capitals coach Spencer Carbery – even when the team was desperate for an offensive spark midseason

But the Russian is just 22 years old, and could be an attractive waiver claim for a team seeing if they could get a diamond in the rough off the wire. And, being Washington’s first-rounder in 2022, a team that can offer him more ice time may roll the dice on his development. And in Washington’s game in Boston, he scored a goal and an assist.

Other Candidates For Capitals Depth Up Front

Ethan Frank is a more familiar name for fans, and a forward who can do well at the NHL or AHL level if needed. He notched 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) in 62 games for the Capitals last season, and is one of the team’s nice stories.

With the 28-year-old’s story out there, he could be someone other teams look at, even with his new two-year, $2 million contract kicking in this year. However, the price could make Capitals management feel it would be enough of a deterrent for other teams to test the waiver wire.

The other forward in the mix is Andrew Cristall, who already was a longer shot to make it because he isn’t subject to waivers and could be sent down to Hershey without issue.

With that fact, he would have to outplay the competition in order to cause the Capitals to risk another player, and being ejected from Monday night’s game didn’t help his cause or allow him to make his case.

Notably, the latter three have appeared in fewer than 100 NHL games, meaning they could suit up for both remaining preseason games without restrictions.

It’s also important to note the Capitals could get clever to try and at least delay their decision, either having a player on IR to open a spot, or they could even paper a player like Ilya Protas to Hershey since he is waiver exempt to delay the decision. But of course that would just be temporary relief barring another injury, and the team would have to hope sending a player down after the initial rosters are set would allow a player to clear.

While Brodzinsky has made his case for a roster spot, Carbery also mentioned the first three by name when asked about forwards playing for a spot. And the latter three will get more time to try and make their case for perhaps just one forward slot on this year’s roster.

Certainly, it’s also a long season, and whoever gets sent down will likely appear later this season for Washington – provided they aren’t claimed on waivers.