With the preseason officially over, the Washington Capitals opening night roster is beginning to come into view. While there is still wheeling and dealing yet to be done in order to get under the salary cap, we are in all likelihood set to see a Caps squad that will have the most significant injection of young talent in recent memory as the team prepares to drop the puck on the 2021-22 season.
Due to a lingering hip injury to Nicklas Bäckström, who did not participate at any point during training camp or the preseason and has been placed on long-term injured reserve, along with the day-to-day sidelining of Alex Ovechkin, some of Washington’s youthful skaters have earned the opportunity to start on opening night.