The Washington Capitals announced their training camp roster for the 2020 playoffs, Sunday afternoon. Phase 3 begins on Monday.

The Capitals’ roster includes 34 players, including 20 forwards, 10 defensemen, and four goalies. The team, thus far, has had no notable opt-outs due to coronavirus concerns.

Roster

Notable players named to the roster include former first-round picks Connor McMichael and Alex Alexeyev, who will likely be black aces. Other depth adds from the Hershey Bears include Shane Gersich, Philippe Maillet, Beck Malenstyn, Garrett Pilon, Brian Pinho, Daniel Sprong, Martin Fehervary, Tyler Lewington, Pheonix Copley, and Vitek Vanecek.

The Capitals’ Phase 3 camp begins on Monday and will last until July 26. Todd Reirden and other select players will be made available to media during camp, so yay content incoming.

The Capitals will leave for their bubble in Toronto on July 26 and play one exhibition game before beginning the round-robin. Washington will face the Tampa Bay Lightning on August 3, the Philadelphia Flyers on August 6, and the Boston Bruins on August 8.

Each NHL team participating in the 24-team playoff is allowed to bring 52 people into the bubble for Phase 4. The NHL’s return-to-play protocol states that each team can bring no more than 31 players, three coaches, two athletic trainers, one team physician, one equipment manager, one massage therapist, one team psychiatrist/chiropractor, one social media person, one security official, and one compliance officer.

That means only three of the players on the current roster will be cut by the Caps before traveling north of the border.

More from the Capitals:

Capitals Announce Roster for Phase 3 of NHL’s Return to Play Plan

Caps will begin Phase 3 Camp July 13; open round-robin play Aug. 3 against Tampa Bay
All practices at MedStar Capitals Iceplex will remain closed to the public

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals will begin Phase 3 of the NHL’s Return to Play Plan and resume the 2019-20 season, presented by Capital One, on Monday, July 13, with the start of Phase 3 camp at MedStar Capitals Iceplex. The Capitals’ roster for Phase 3 is attached and includes 20 forwards, 10 defensemen and four goalies. The roster will be broken up into two squads (Teams Blue and Red) and their schedules will vary. All Capitals practices will remain closed to the public and general staff of the Capitals.

The Capitals Phase 3 camp will run from July 13-26. The Capitals will depart to Toronto on July 26 and play one exhibition game before beginning a three-game round-robin schedule to determine seeding for the playoffs. Washington will face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Aug. 3, the Philadelphia Flyers on Aug. 6, and the Boston Bruins on Aug. 8. Broadcast information, start times and the date and opponent for the exhibition game will be announced at a later date. All games from the 2020 qualifying rounds (round-robin and qualifying rounds) are considered part of the 2020 postseason.

The Capitals finished first in the Metropolitan Division this season, marking their franchise-record fifth consecutive division title. The Capitals became the eighth franchise in NHL history to win five straight division titles and the first since the Anaheim Ducks from 2012-13 to 2016-17. With 90 points in 69 games before the suspension-shortened 2019-20 season, the Capitals were again on pace to reach the 100-point mark. Washington was slated to become the fourth franchise in NHL history to reach the mark six consecutive times, joining the Detroit Red Wings (12 times: 1999- 00 to 2011-12), the Montreal Canadiens (eight times: 1974-75 to 1981-82) and the Edmonton Oilers (1981-82 to 1986-87).

Headline photo: Elizabeth Kong/RMNB