The Capitals must get the roster down to 23 skaters by Monday at 5 p.m. ET.

WASHINGTON — Beck Malenstyn knows that his NHL dream is sitting right there for him. He and a handful of other hopefuls survived a round of 11 cuts on Friday and got their final chance to show head coach Spencer Carbery what they can do in a dress rehearsal on Saturday.

Now, all he and the others can do is wait as the Capitals make their final roster decisions. The team currently sits at 27 skaters, and there can only be 23 by Monday at 5 p.m. ET. Max Pacioretty (and potentially Joel Edmundson) will go on the long-term injured reserve, opening some vacancies, but there are still some big decisions to make.

And even though things seem optimistic for a handful of prsopects, Malenstyn and the other hopefuls aren't getting ahead of themselves.

"Try not to be too comfortable, right?" Malenstyn said. "I'm just taking it day by day, accepting each challenge put in front of me. It's been great to still be here now, and now we have a couple of days to wait and find out how it's all going to be once the dust settles."

Malenstyn, 25, has been waiting years for this opportunity. He almost had it back in 2020, but a torn Achilles in training put his NHL jump on hold. Then, more setbacks — including a broken hand last season during an impressive stint up with the big club — led to an extended stay in the AHL with the Hershey Bears.

Now, the 2016 fifth-rounder has a Calder Cup and is coming off an impressive camp that all but helped him punch a ticket to his rookie NHL season.

"I feel like I put my best foot forward here in training camp," Malenstyn said. "And however it ends up is how it ends up."

Another player likely to crack the NHL roster and stick this time is Connor McMichael. The 22-year-old had started last year up with the Capitals, but got sent down to Hershey to continue his development after spending the first part of the season as a healthy scratch.

This training camp proved different, though, as he not only showed he is deserving of a full-time roster spot but that he can also play top-6 minutes. He led the team with 19 shots in the preseason and was one of the most noticeable players night in and night out.

"It was the best camp I've ever had since I've been drafted here," McMichael said. "I was starting to flash what I can do in this league and I showed my confidence and I was making plays... there's not much I can do anymore, so it's kind of just wait and see. I think I had a pretty good camp. Just looking forward to seeing if I made it."

Then there are fringe players.

Matthew Phillips and Ivan Miroshnichenko are the extra forwards still at camp, though it appears Phillips has gained an edge in that race as Miroshnichenko still has to adapt to living in the States and playing North American hockey.

On the blue line, the battle is a bit more crowded, with Hardy Häman Aktell, Alex Alexeyev and Lucas Johansen all impressing at camp to try and stake a claim for a spot.

Edmundson's fractured hand and subsequent surgery opened a vacancy, but given his timetable, LTIR isn't the most likely option. That would mean that there wouldn't be an extra roster spot in that regard, and that decision may be more difficult with Häman Aktell, Alexeyev and Johansen all showcasing their skill during camp.

Häman Aktell arguably leads that race, as the 6-foot-4 Swede has proven to be a solid addition to the backend, can eat big minutes and is acclimated enough to the game to play a full-time role or be an extra defenseman at the highest level.

Still, Johansen, who has been in the system and waiting for his chance since going in the first round in 2016, has had a strong camp and is the closest he's been to cracking the roster yet. And his fellow prospects are rooting for him to finally make that jump.

"Luke's camp has been unbelievable. I've had the pleasure of playing with Jo for a long time, and I think this past year, the playoff run really highlighted his best hockey. And I think he's rolled that right through the summer and into training camp," Malenstyn said. "He looks like the best version of himself, sacrificing his body, moving pucks, showing his poise, showing his skill. I hope all the best for him, he's had an amazing training camp and definitely think earned a chance."

The Capitals have an off day on Sunday before taking the ice for a 10:30 a.m. practice on Monday. And though it's nerve-wracking, the kids left everything out on the ice, and no matter where they end up, have left an impression on the organization.

"It's crucial... certainly there's a lot of guys vying and making a great case for themselves," John Carlson said of the prospects. "It's always good to have hard decisions as much as they stink making them."