Capitals reveal roster and schedule for 2026 Training Camp

The Washington Capitals have announced their 52-man roster for Training Camp ahead of the 2026-27 season. On-ice activities will begin on Thursday, with the team’s first preseason game set for Sunday evening.

The roster features 29 forwards, 17 defensemen and seven goalies, who will be split into two groups with varying skating schedules.

This fall marks the first year of the NHL’s newly-shortened training camps, which will be just 13 days long (down from 21) and features just four preseason games per team. The league’s new CBA also prohibits fitness testing during camp. Accordingly, the Capitals opted for a smaller roster than in years past, with 10 fewer players participating than in 2025-26.

Captain Alex Ovechkin will return for his 22nd NHL season after opting against retirement this summer, signing a one-year contract in July to extend his historic career. A splashy Capitals offseason means Ovechkin will have plenty of new teammates at camp, including wingers Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou, defenseman Vincent Desharnais, and veteran forward Boone Jenner.

14 players who attended Capitals Rookie Camp this week in Annapolis, Md will join the team’s veterans at Training Camp. Standouts from that group include Cole Hutson, Ilya Protas, Andrew Cristall, Lynden Lakovic, and Terik Parascak.

Defenseman Rasmus Sandin, who tore his ACL in April, is listed on the Training Camp roster but will remain unavailable for the start of the season after undergoing surgery, with a projected return between late October and late January.

The Capitals will kick off their preseason schedule on the road at 5 pm Sunday against the Boston Bruins before they face the Philadelphia Flyers Monday evening at Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Their sole preseason game at Capital One Arena will be on September 25 against Boston, with one final game in Philadelphia on September 26 closing out the exhibition calendar.

Opening Night for the regular season will be on October 2 in Raleigh, NC at the Lenovo Center against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Alongside the 52-man roster, the Capitals also released a preliminary schedule for the first week of camp. All of the on-ice camp sessions will be open to the public and free of charge.

Schedule (first week)

Wednesday, September 16

Medical/testing

Thursday, September 17

9 am Group A practice (Capitals Rink)

9:35 am Group A practice (Arlington Rink)

11:45 am Group B practice (Arlington Rink)

12:20 pm Group B practice (Capitals Rink)

Friday, September 18

9 am Group A practice (Arlington Rink)

9:35 am Group A practice (Capitals Rink)

10:30 am Group A off-ice workouts (Gym)

11:45 pm Group B practice (Arlington Rink)

12:20 pm Group B practice (Capitals Rink)

1:10 pm Group B off-ice workouts (Gym)

Saturday, September 19

9 am Group A practice (Arlington Rink)

9:35 am Group A practice (Capitals Rink)

10:30 am Group A off-ice workouts (Gym)

11:45 pm Group B practice (Arlington Rink)

12:20 pm Group B practice (Capitals Rink)

1:10 pm Group B off-ice workouts (Gym)

Sunday, September 20

5 pm Washington at Boston (TD Garden)

9 am Non-game group practice (both rinks)

10 am Non-game group scrimmage (Capitals Rink)

Monday, September 21

10:30 am Game group pre-game skate (Capitals Rink)

7 pm Washington vs. Philadelphia (GIANT Center in Hershey, Penn.)

11:45 am Non-game group practice (Arlington Rink)

12:25 pm Non-game group practice (Capitals Rink)

Washington Capitals 2026 Training Camp roster

Forwards

Defensemen

*Injured

Goaltenders