Capitals Cut Roster To 27; Who’s Close To Winning A Spot?

The Washington Capitals announced their third wave of roster cuts Friday, trimming the roster down to 27.

Nicolas Aube-Kubel, who played 53 games in Washington last season, and Hendrix Lapierre, the team’s 2020 first-round pick, were among the cuts.

Those assigned directly to Hershey include Lapierre and fellow forwards Ethen Frank and Riley Sutter, in addition to defensemen Vincent Iorio and Chase Priskie. Frank, Sutter and Priskie — each previously sent down — were each recalled to play in Thursday’s Capitals-Blue Jackets matchup.

Aube-Kubel is one of six players that have been placed on waivers and, if they go unclaimed, will report to Hershey. Also included are forwards Alex Limoges, Michael Sgarbossa and Joe Snively, defenseman Dylan McIlrath and goalie Hunter Shepard.

The Capitals will have to finalize a 23-man roster by Monday’s 5 p.m. deadline, which shouldn’t come as too much of a challenge.

The team’s current roster includes goalie Mitchell Gibson, who will likely be returned to Hershey following Saturday’s preseason finale. Forward Max Pacioretty and defenseman Joel Edmundson, both battling injury, are potential candidates for long-term injured reserve, which would trim the roster down to 24.

The final cut would likely come among the forward core, with Matthew Phillips, Aliaksei Protas, Beck Malenstyn and Ivan Miroshnichenko each still remaining on the bubble. But a defensive option, such as Lucas Johansen or Hardy Haman Aktell, could be in play depending on what number head coach Spencer Carbery is comfortable with entering the regular season.