"After losing their first game of the preseason on Thursday night to the Boston Bruins, the Capitals cut six players, trimming their roster to just 27 names. Among the cuts are five skaters who took part in the loss to the Bruins, highlighted by Andrew Cristall and Ilya Protas. Five of the six cuts have been immediately placed on the AHL's Hershey Bears roster, while the sixth, forward Sheldon Rempal, will need to clear NHL waivers over the next 24 hours before reporting to the Bears."
"Cristall, 20, heads to Hershey to begin his first pro season after playing in four exhibition games this fall, the joint most on the team. The 2023 second-round pick, now affectionally known as "Loaf" by his teammates, scored two goals in the four outings to give him four career NHL preseason goals in eight games. The Vancouver native was the final cut from last year's training camp, but unlike in the 2024-25 season, Cristall can immediately play AHL games this year without first returning to the WHL."
"Protas, 19, played his final preseason game this year as the center on a line with Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin and 2022 first-round pick Ivan Miroshnichenko. Lil Pro, five years junior to his older brother Aliaksei Protas, is also set to experience his first pro season after playing one year in the OHL with the Windsor Spitfires."
Washington reduced its training camp roster to 27 players following a preseason loss to Boston, cutting six players and assigning five directly to the AHL's Hershey Bears. Forward Sheldon Rempal was placed on waivers and must clear within 24 hours before joining Hershey. Among those sent down are Andrew Cristall and Ilya Protas. Cristall, 20, begins his first professional season after a dominant WHL campaign and four exhibition games with the Capitals. Protas, 19, closed preseason centering a line with Alex Ovechkin and is slated to start his first pro season after one OHL year.
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