Notre Dame Professional Athletes

For Cal Petersen, the fight to stick in the NHL isn't over — it's just moved to Washington.

The Notre Dame product has signed a Professional Tryout agreement with the Washington Capitals, landing a shot to compete for a roster spot heading into the 2026-27 season. It's a significant opportunity for the veteran netminder, who spent last season as Minnesota's primary insurance option between the pipes — a role that kept him in the league but left his long-term future uncertain.

PTOs are earned, not given. Petersen will need to impress the Capitals' brass during training camp, competing for what figures to be a backup or depth goaltending role in D.C. Washington already has Nick Leivermann — another Notre Dame alum — on their blue line, meaning Fighting Irish fans will have at least one, and potentially two, alumni to track when the Capitals take the ice this fall.

Petersen's path to this moment has required durability and patience. After a breakout stretch earlier in his career, he's navigated the reality of life as a veteran depth goaltender, bouncing between primary starts and reserve duty. A strong training camp showing in Washington could change that calculus and buy him another year — or more — of NHL relevance.

The broader Irish roster

Petersen's PTO pursuit headlines a quietly robust Notre Dame presence across the NHL. Anders Lee and Kyle Palmieri continue anchoring the New York Islanders' forward group, while Bryan Rust remains on Pittsburgh's wing alongside defenseman Nathan Clurman. Jake Evans holds down a center role in Montreal. Vincent Hinostroza brings speed to Florida's depth forward corps, and T.J. Tynan gives Colorado a veteran playmaker option at center.

On the back end, Ian Cole is in Chicago, Dennis Gilbert suits up in Buffalo, and Spencer Stastney projects as a depth option in Edmonton. Drew Bavaro and Andrew Peeke round out a pair of former Irish blueliners now with Boston, alongside forward Alex Steeves.

For a program that doesn't always land on national recruiting radars the way traditional hockey powers do, Notre Dame has quietly built a pipeline that pushes players into every corner of the league map — from Sunrise to Seattle, Buffalo to D.C.

Petersen's tryout is the most compelling storyline of the moment: a player who has every reason to fight for one more shot, heading to a franchise that could use a reliable veteran presence in net. Camp will tell the story. Watch for updates when Washington opens its 2026-27 training camp.

Cal Petersen is heading to Washington.

The Notre Dame product has signed a professional tryout agreement with the Washington Capitals, giving the veteran goaltender an opportunity to earn a roster spot ahead of the 2026-27 NHL season. Petersen spent last season with the Minnesota Wild, where he served as the team's primary insurance option between the pipes — a role that kept him in the league but didn't exactly light up a highlight reel.

The PTO is precisely what it sounds like: a prove-it situation. Petersen will head into Capitals camp competing for a depth goaltending role on a team that has historically valued playoff-caliber depth at the position. For a netminder with NHL starting experience, the opportunity to audition in a new market could be the reset his career needs.

Petersen's path to this moment has been a study in professional resilience. Once projected as a franchise-caliber starter, he's navigated a series of depth and backup roles in recent seasons. A PTO with Washington doesn't guarantee anything — but it puts him in a room where he can make a case. Training camps have produced stranger outcomes.

The Broader Irish Picture

Petersen is hardly the only Notre Dame name on NHL rosters as camps approach. The Fighting Irish have a notable footprint across the league heading into 2026-27.

In Washington itself, Petersen will be skating in the same organization as defenseman Nick Leivermann, who is under contract with the Capitals. The Islanders carry two Irish veterans — winger Anders Lee and center Kyle Palmieri — giving Notre Dame one of the more concentrated alumni clusters on any single roster. The Bruins feature a trio of Fighting Irish products in Drew Bavaro, Andrew Peeke, and Alex Steeves, while the Blackhawks carry Ian Cole and Landon Slaggert.

The depth of Notre Dame's NHL presence underscores how consistently the program has developed professional-caliber talent across positions. From Petersen's goaltending to Lee's veteran leadership on Long Island, the Irish alumni network in the league is both broad and entrenched.

For now, the story is Petersen. A PTO is a narrow door — but it's open, and he's walking through it.