As you would expect, the rosters for Monday's preseason opener are largely packed with prospects. The Caps will have a fairly representative group of blueliners, with four of the six having at least some NHL experience. Blueliner Bobby Nardella, signed as a college free agent in March, is slated to suit up for his first ever NHL exhibition action.
Of the dozen Washington forwards expected to dress on Monday, seven have NHL experience. Caps fans will get their first look at 2019 first-round draft choice (25th overall) Connor McMichael on Monday, as he is expected to center a line with Chandler Stephenson and Damian Riat. That trio skated together in a Sunday intrasquad scrimmage at MedStar Capitals Iceplex, accounting for all three of its team's goals. Stephenson scored twice and Riat once, with McMichael helping to create all three.
Additionally, local product Joe Snively will get his first ever exhibition showing in front of the home folks on Monday. Snively, who hails from Herndon, Va., will suit up in a Caps sweater and skate the right side of a trio with Beck Malenstyn and Aliaksei Protas. Snively signed with Washington - the team he rooted for while growing up in the area - in March after four seasons as a standout at Yale.
Like McMichael, Protas is a 2019 draftee (third round, 91st overall) who will be getting his first taste of NHL exhibition action. Offseason free agent additions Garnet Hathaway and Brendan Leipsic will also don their new Washington sweaters for the first time on Monday against the Blackhawks.
Pheonix Copley is expected to start in goal for the Caps, and Ilya Samsonov will dress as the backup.
Like the Capitals, the Blackhawks occupy one of the league's most competitive divisions. After finishing at or near the bottom of the NHL's Central Division in each of the last two seasons, the Hawks are hoping to climb the standings ladder in 2019-20.