The Washington Capitals are heading into the 2026-27 season with a reshaped forward group, and that means the battle for NHL jobs is about to get real.
Andrew Cristall is right in the middle of it.
The 21-year-old just finished a crucial first pro season with the AHL’s Hershey Bears, and he made a strong case for himself: 20 goals, 40 assists and 60 points in 72 games. He and Ilya Protas formed a dangerous one-two punch, and both players put themselves firmly on Washington’s radar.
"My game translates... I just proved myself of making that next jump and feeling good," Cristall said at the end of the season.
"Junior to the AHL's a big jump, it's amateur to pro, and everybody here is trying to make a living. Obviously, I want to make that next jump as well."
Now the focus shifts to training camp, where Cristall is working to add size and sharpen his skating as he tries to push for an opening-night spot with the Capitals.
That won’t be easy. Washington has added Alex Tuch, Jordan Kyrou and Boone Jenner up front, while prospects like Ivan Miroshnichenko and Bogdan Trineyev are also fighting for full-time NHL opportunities. The result should be a crowded and competitive camp, and that’s exactly what coach Spencer Carbery expects.
"It'll be a different group, we'll have a lot of new faces with some of the moves that have gone on, but also some of the young players that will hopefully be able to earn a spot in training camp," coach Spencer Carbery added.
Cristall’s path still runs through the details: continuing to build his identity at the pro level, taking on more leadership and showing he can drive offense even with Protas moving up to the NHL.
And if history is any guide, he shouldn’t be ignored. Cristall has had strong preseason performances before, enough to earn a longer look. With camp approaching, he’s very much a name to watch.
In Other News...
Capitals Add Veteran Goalie To A Camp Battle Fans Should Watch
The Capitals have brought another experienced name into the mix at training camp, adding goaltender Calvin Petersen on a professional tryout agreement. Petersen arrives with seven NHL seasons on his rsum and recent AHL stops in the Flyers and Wild organizations, giving Washington a veteran presence in a camp that already has a crowded look in net.
Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren sit atop the group, but the competition around them is worth watching as the rest of camp unfolds. Clay Stevenson and Mitchell Gibson are already in the picture, and Petersen now gets a chance to make his case while the Capitals sort through who can handle the organizations depth roles once the regular roster decisions start coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Capitals Goalie Battle Just Got More Complicated Behind Thompson And Lindgren
With Charlie Lindgren and Logan Thompson already in place, Washington has added another layer to its goaltending picture by bringing in Cal Petersen on a professional tryout agreement for training camp ahead of the 2026-27 season. Petersen has spent most of the past four seasons in the AHL, with brief NHL stops with the Kings and Flyers, and the Capitals are looking at him as a veteran piece while they sort through the rest of the depth chart.
The move gives Washington a little more stability as camp opens, especially with the team trying to evaluate how the entire goalie group fits together. Petersen is not being brought in to change the top of the chart, but his experience and steady profile make him an important name to watch while the Capitals decide how they want to manage their options behind Thompson and Lindgren. [Read more 🡒]
Capitals Add Goalie Competition As Camp Battle Starts In Net
The Capitals are adding another layer to their goaltending picture heading into training camp and the preseason, bringing in Cal Petersen on a professional tryout agreement. Petersen arrives with NHL experience from his time with the Kings and Flyers, and he spent last season in the AHL with the Iowa Wild, giving Washington a veteran option to examine as camp opens.
For a team that is about to sort out its depth in net, Petersen gives the Capitals another name to watch in a competition that can shift quickly once the skates hit the ice. His most recent NHL work came with Philadelphia in 2023-24, and now he gets a chance to make a stronger case in Washington with a contract for the 2026-27 season on the line. [Read more 🡒]