"Because of the camp he's had, he's earned the opportunity to continue to be a part of the team," Capitals coach Carbery said.
"Because of the camp he's had, he's earned the opportunity to continue to be a part of the team," Capitals coach Carbery said.
The Washington Capitals have some big decisions to make with five days left until opening night rosters are due, and Andrew Cristall's one of them.
Cristall has made quite a case for himself this training camp, as he faces two choices heading into his pivotal season: he can either make the NHL or head back to juniors for another year, as he's not yet eligible for the AHL at the age of 19.
With not much left to prove down with the WHL's Kelowna Rockets, Cristall has been working hard toward option one, as he's impressed head coach Spencer Carbery and his staff to put himself in strong consideration for a roster spot.
"Because of the camp he's had, he's earned the opportunity to continue to be a part of the team and continue to push to try to make the team," Carbery said. "That's why he's here still."
Cristall has a point in each of his preseason games so far, and he's also impressed with his shot, skating and speed through the exhibitions and practices, too.
"He's had a great camp, he's put himself in the spot that maybe, if you were looking before camp started, probably didn't have him slotted to potentially make the team. Thought he'd go back to Kelowna, have another phenomenal year there, but he's done a good job thus far through camp and earned an opportunity to make the team."
If Cristall does make the team, he would get a nine-game trial to start, since players who play in 10 games or more burn a year of their entry-level contract. So, if he does make the team, he could get nine games or less and then head back to juniors to continue his development, or if Carbery and the team are confident in his performance, he could surpass 10 games and burn a year of his contract and stick around.
That said, Cristall's one of 29 healthy skaters left at camp who can crack the Capitals' 23-man roster, though he faces heavy competition, with Jakub Vrana and Ivan Miroshnichenko vying for roster spots and Sonny Milano looking to keep his full-time job, too.
Still, with a strong finish to camp and the team's third-line left-wing role still up for grabs, Cristall could not only win a roster spot but a full-time job in the lineup.
Opening night rosters are due Monday, Oct. 7 by 5 p.m. ET.
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