The Capitals have some decisions to make entering the final days of training camp.
ARLINGTON, V.A. — After a solid showing against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday, the Washington Capitals got back to work with a busy practice on Friday, which saw Riley Sutter, Chase Priskie and Ethen Frank still up with the big club while Mitchell Gibson also made his way back to the District.
Sutter, Priskie and Frank were skating with Group A in a rigorous, lengthy practice that featured rushes, drills and a mini-scrimmage. Mitchell Gibson also skated after being recalled on Friday, while Clay Stevenson was sent down.
Group A was the only one to skate on Friday, as Group B had the day off.
Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Beck Malenstyn, Anthony Mantha, Connor McMichael, Alex Ovechkin, Matthew Phillips, Aliaksei Protas, Joe Snively, Hardy Häman Aktell, Lucas Johansen, Dylan McIlrath and Hunter Shepard did not skate. Every player in Group B played on Thursday, with the exception of Snively and Shepard.
Here is the full Group A roster:
Washington has one more preseason game on the schedule and will take the ice for two more practice sessions on Sunday and Monday before final rosters are due Monday at 5 p.m. ET. Changes can still happen after that, but that's when the first draft has to be submitted to the league.
For head coach Spencer Carbery, there's a lot left to think about, and the next round of cuts won't be easy.
"There's a lot of work that goes into the last two weeks, a lot of commitment," Carbery pointed out but reiterated that it's part of the hockey business.
Keep an eye on the waiver wire at 2 p.m., as a lot of teams are expected to make some moves.