Following just three days of Training Camp, the Washington Capitals will commence their 2024 preseason this Sunday afternoon.
The Capitals are set to face off against the Philadelphia Flyers at Capital One Arena, with the game starting at 3 PM. This will mark the first opportunity for Caps head coach Spencer Carbery to assess his team from behind the bench during his second season.
The lineup for Washington will include a mix of experienced NHL players, minor league athletes, and promising prospects.
Check out the first group of Caps preparing for preseason action tomorrow at @CapitalOneArena#CapsFlyers | #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/P6MLWEHPgO
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 21, 2024
The players expected to don a jersey include Hendrix Lapierre, Sonny Milano, Ivan Miroshnichenko, Mike Sgarbossa, Alex Alexeyev, Ethan Bear, Hardy Häman Aktell, Vincent Iorio, and Trevor van Riemsdyk, all of whom participated in NHL games with Washington last season.
Alongside Jakub Vrana, returning to the Capitals for his first game since April 11, 2021, top prospects Terik Parascak, Andrew Cristall, Cam Allen, and Leon Muggli will also take the ice.
The roster will feature Calder Cup champions from the Hershey Bears, including Ethen Frank, Henrik Rybinski, Alex Limoges, Clay Stevenson, and Hunter Shepard, all of whom are set to play significant roles. Bears assistant coaches Patrick Wellar and Nick Bootland will join Carbery on the bench as well.
“I’m focusing on a few key elements,” Carbery stated. “I want to integrate some of what we’ve discussed, so we can observe the structural elements and see which players naturally incorporate them into their gameplay. Competitiveness is a primary focus, and maintaining pace in our game is another important aspect. Additionally, young players, whether they are in their first exhibition game or have participated in a couple of them, can sometimes feel paralyzed by concerns like, ‘Am I in the right position? Am I collaborating effectively with my linemates?’ That’s something I want to avoid.”
“Each of these players is here for a reason and is competing for a spot on our team because they bring unique skill sets to the table. I want them to seize every opportunity to showcase their abilities. Whether you’re a physical player who can finish checks, a pass-first type, a puck-retreater, or a net front presence, I expect you to capitalize on those moments when they arise during the game.”
The majority of the roster has been organized into Group A for practice, where they have been executing line rushes.
Milano
Sgarbossa*
Parascak
Cristall
Rybinski
Miroshnichenko
