What happened: Washington placed Dylan McIlrath on waivers Sunday to clear a spot on the 23-man roster. The transaction follows the acquisition of netminder Rémi Poirier from the Devils to reinforce organizational depth in goal. If unclaimed within 24 hours, the former 2010 first-round pick will report to the AHL.

Why it matters: The Capitals moved to shore up goaltending reserves after losing netminder Clay Stevenson on waivers earlier this season. McIlrath previously served as captain for AHL Hershey, providing proven blue-line leadership should he clear and return to the minor-league affiliate.

What to watch: Waiver claims process Monday afternoon to determine whether McIlrath is claimed or assigned to Hershey.