Overview
- The Capitals placed defenseman Dylan McIlrath on waivers after acquiring Rémi Poirier from the New Jersey Devils on Nov. 1 to make room on the 23-man roster.
- Washington plans to carry three goalies for insurance behind Charlie Lindgren because starter Logan Thompson has had recent injury trouble, which prompted the Poirier trade and the roster move.
- McIlrath has spent most of this season as a healthy scratch, appearing in four of Washington’s 12 games, and he has a long history as an NHL-AHL depth player and former Hershey captain.
- Claiming McIlrath requires an open roster spot and his $850,000 cap hit, and waiver priority reset on Nov. 1 to the current inverse standings will shape which clubs can make a claim.
- If he clears waivers, the Capitals will loan McIlrath to the Hershey Bears, returning a veteran leader to the AHL and preserving Washington’s younger waiver-exempt options for NHL minutes.