Capitals Training Camp Includes Large Hershey Contingent
Andrew Cristall, Ben Kraws and other Bears-linked players are among the roster reporting to Washington this week.
The Washington Capitals open their 2026-27 training camp with media day Thursday at MedStar Capitals Iceplex. The roster will be split into two groups, and the team's on-ice sessions are open to the public.
The camp list includes a large Hershey contingent. Andrew Cristall is among the forwards after playing for the Bears last season, while Ryan Chesley, Cam Allen, Louie Belpedio and Leon Muggli are among the defensemen coming from Hershey.
Goaltender Ben Kraws signed an AHL contract with Hershey for the 2026-27 season after spending most of last season with the ECHL's Idaho Steelheads. He went 16-12-2 with a 3.03 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage in 31 ECHL appearances.
Kraws also played four games for the Texas Stars in 2025-26 and has 11 career AHL appearances, all with Texas. Washington's camp goaltending group also includes NHL tandem Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren, Mitchell Gibson, Clay Stevenson, Garin Bjorklund and professional tryout Cal Petersen.
The Capitals begin their preseason Sunday at Boston. Their second exhibition is Monday against Philadelphia at GIANT Center in Hershey.
