The Washington Capitals made some more roster decisions ahead of their final preseason game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday evening.
Veteran defenseman Justin Holl has been waived and cut from the team’s training camp roster. If he goes unclaimed during the NHL’s 24-hour waiver period, he can be assigned to AHL Hershey on Sunday.
In addition, the Capitals have recalled four players from the Bears, Tyler Kopff, Petr Sikora, Alex Suzdalev, and Jon McDonald, to play in an NHL-veteran-light lineup against the Flyers. The four will likely be returned to Hershey after the game.
Holl’s dismissal indicates that Dylan McIlrath has made the NHL roster out of camp again and will serve as the club’s seventh defenseman. The move also hints that the Capitals will carry 14 forwards or three goaltenders to start the regular season, with future cuts to clarify that picture.
Holl, 34, was signed to a one-year, $900k contract by the Capitals on the first day of free agency this past July. He spent most of the 2025-26 season in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins, recording 14 points (2g, 12a) in 41 games. He also played nine NHL games for the St. Louis Blues, notching two points (1g, 1a).
The right-shot defender broke into the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2017-18 season and spent 8 total years with the team. He has played 405 career NHL games with the Maple Leafs, Blues, and Detroit Red Wings.
Washington must eventually get down to a maximum 23-player active roster by 5 pm ET on September 28. They open the regular season on the road against the Carolina Hurricanes on October 2.
