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First practice of regular season hints which Caps players will make the final cut


The Washington Capitals lined-up for their first practice of the regular season Tuesday and the team’s final roster is becoming clearer.

The Caps, who had 25 players at practice, must dispatch at least two skaters by 5 PM Tuesday.

Here are the lines via NBC Sports Washington’s Tarik El-Bashir.

Andre Burakovsky – Nicklas Backstrom – TJ Oshie
Alex Ovechkin – Evgeny Kuznetsov – Jakub Vrana
Brett Connolly – Lars Eller – Alex Chiasson
Tyler Graovac – Jay Beagle – Devante Smith-Pelly
Nathan Walker – Chandler Stephenson – Tom Wilson

Dmitry Orlov – Matt Niskanen
Brooks Orpik – John Carlson
Aaron Ness – Taylor Chorney
Christian Djoos – Madison Bowey

Alex Chiasson, who joined the Capitals training camp roster on a PTO, appears to have made the team. TSN’s Bob McKenzie reported Monday night that Chiasson, who scored 12 goals with Calgary last season, would “more likely than not” sign an NHL deal “eventually this week.”

Chiasson is lining up where Tom “I can’t stop plowing players during the preseason” Wilson, who will likely be suspended again by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety later today.

In a surprise, Nathan Walker, who was arguably one of the best players in training camp, is an extra while Devante Smith-Pelly, who was a sub-replacement level player on one of the worst teams in the league last year, has made the team. Chandler Stephenson was the other extra forward.

On defense, Aaron Ness skated with Taylor Chorney on the team’s third pairing while it appears rookies Christian Djoos and Madison Bowey are on the bubble. Djoos, a talented prospect, would have to go through waivers to be sent down to Hershey while Madison Bowey has options remaining.

We can’t be sure, but it appears that the Caps final roster cuts have dome down to Nathan Walker, Chandler Stephenson, Christian Djoos, and Madison Bowey. Teams must put their final cuts on waivers, if necessary, at noon.

Update 12 PM: The Capitals did not place anyone on waivers.

The Capitals may be punting on their final roster until tomorrow since Vrana and Bowey have options.

Headline photo: Cara Bahniuk

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