The Washington Capitals finalized their roster on Wednesday, making two expected moves that nevertheless have interesting implications. The team has placed defensemen Tom Poti on long-term injury reserve and made defensemen John Erskine a non-roster player, according to Brian McNally of the Washington Examiner.
The news on Poti is significant because it puts the Capitals back under the salary cap. Poti has been trying to come back from a series of groin injuries, but the Capitals considered Poti's injuries to be career-threatening. Poti was set to make $2.875 million this season, which is enough to get the Capitals back under the cap.
As for Erskine, he is still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. He has yet to be cleared to practice, and will probably be out a couple weeks. The Capitals will be a little shorthanded on the blue line until then. His salary does count against the cap.
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