While most of the Caps roster is more or less set, there are still some roster spots being competed. Here’s a look at those battles, and how each player is trending (to be updated regularly):
| Goalies | Trend | Notes |
| Michal Neuvirth | ▲ | Perhaps out-performing Varlamov so far, Neuvirth still has an uphill climb to make the team. |
| Semyon Varlamov | – | Barring an implosion or a significant challenge from Neuvirth, the incumbent will be hard to unseat. |
| Defensemen | ||
| Karl Alzner | – | Bruce Boudreau has said that the Alzner would have to “wow” him to make the team. He hasn’t. Yet. |
| John Carlson | – | There’s no need to rush Carlson, and all indications are that the team won’t. |
| Sean Collins | ▼ | Collins is a long shot to make the Caps, but a better bet to pass through waivers. |
| Tyler Sloan | ▲ | If there is a roster spot open on the blueline, Sloan is the clubhouse leader, not only because he would have to pass through waivers to be sent to Hershey, but also because of his solid, if unspectacular, play. |
| Forwards | ||
| Keith Aucoin |
– | If the Caps needed a scoring-line center, Aucoin would be in better shape right now. |
| Jay Beagle | ▲ | Beagle was strong in the first preseason game, scoring the game-tying goal, winning 70% of his draws, and taking four shots on goal. His sandpaper doesn’t hurt, either. |
| Chris Bourque | – | The fact that he’d have to pass through waivers to be sent down – and he wouldn’t – makes him a good candidate for a roster spot, but he still has to earn it. |
| Alexandre Giroux | ▲ | Dude just keeps scoring goals. If the Caps want to replace a top-six wing without juggling the other lines, Giroux could be the man. |
| Quintin Laing | ▲ | Boudreau loves Laing, and the gritty winger helps one of the weakest facets of the team’s game – the penalty kill. |