The Capitals are adding another layer of insurance in goal as they head toward the 2026-27 campaign.
Washington announced Tuesday that it has signed Cal Petersen to a professional tryout agreement for training camp, giving the organization another experienced option to sort through once camp opens.
Petersen, a right-catching goaltender, has spent most of the last four seasons in the AHL. His only NHL work during that stretch came in 15 games with the Los Angeles Kings in 2022-23 and the Philadelphia Flyers in 2023-24. Last season, he appeared in 33 games for the Iowa Wild and posted a .896 save percentage with a 2.73 GAA.
For the Capitals, the move adds depth, stability and a veteran presence in the crease. It also gives the club some protection depending on how the competition shakes out over the next few weeks.
Washington’s goaltending situation will be worth watching closely in camp. Logan Thompson is trying to build on another strong season as the starter, while Charlie Lindgren is looking to rebound after a rough year in the backup role and in several second-half starts on back-to-backs.
At the same time, Clay Stevenson is pushing for more NHL opportunity after strong call-ups and steady play with the AHL’s Hershey Bears. The catch is that Stevenson is not waiver-exempt, while Thompson and Lindgren are already lined up as the team’s tandem.
If Stevenson doesn’t get through waivers - a scenario that appears likely because of his promise, age and upside - Petersen would give the Capitals a dependable fallback. He has already shown he can handle the AHL starter role in Hershey, and he could also serve as a reliable recall option. Beyond that, he can help guide prospects Mitchell Gibson and Garin Bjorklund as they continue their development.
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Andrew Cristall arrives at Capitals training camp with some momentum after a strong first pro season in Hershey, where the 21-year-old turned heads as one of the organizations more intriguing young forwards. His development has put him squarely in the conversation for a job in Washington, and that makes camp feel especially important for a player trying to convert promise into an NHL roster spot.
The challenge is that the path is far from clear. Spencer Carbery said the Capitals will have plenty of new faces and young players battling for positions, and Cristall is entering that mix at a time when the lineup picture is crowded. For a prospect on the rise, the next step is not just showing he belongs, but doing it in a camp full of players chasing the same opening. [Read more 🡒]
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 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 🡒]