Derek Roy, Justin Peters cut as Capitals take steps toward setting initial roster

Derek Roy, a veteran center who was attending training camp on a tryout, and Justin Peters, the backup goaltender last season, were each cut by the Washington Capitals on Monday as the team neared the deadline for setting the 23-man opening-night roster.

Also cut by the Capitals on Monday were defensemen Aaron Ness and Ryan Stanton, left wing Liam O’Brien and center Chandler Stephenson, a third-round draft pick of the Capitals in 2012.

Coach Barry Trotz and his staff spent the better part of the past week evaluating Roy and Stephenson for one spot at center, but decided instead that Andre Burakovsky, who began last season as a center before moving to the wing, would fill that role.

Top-line center Nicklas Backstrom is expected to miss a portion of the first month as he recovers from surgery on his left hip. Evgeny Kuznetsov will replace him, with Jay Beagle manning the third line and Brooks Laich or Michael Latta filling in on the fourth line.

Peters, who had an .881 save percentage and 3.25 goals-against average in 12 games for the Capitals last season, was destined for the minor leagues in July, when Washington signed Philipp Grubauer, the Hershey Bears’ top goaltender, to a one-way contract.

Taylor Chorney, who also signed a one-way contract in July, edged out Ness and Stanton for the final spot on defense and could be pressed into action early with Brooks Orpik still recovering from left wrist surgery.

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Left wing Sean Collins, who spent parts of the last three seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets, and right wing Stan Galiev, who made his debut with the Capitals last season, also appear to have made the initial roster. Right wing Chris Brown is still also on the roster, but he will miss several weeks and will likely be put on injured reserve as he recovers from an unspecified hand injury.

The deadline for teams to set their rosters is Tuesday at 5 p.m. Although the season opens on Wednesday, the Capitals will not begin play until Saturday, when they host the New Jersey Devils.