PORTLAND – As the Washington Capitals roster takes shape this week, so will that of the Portland Pirates.

After Washington’s exhibition game in Portland Saturday night, the Capitals have three preseason games to play, providing a few more days for players to win or lose jobs with the parent club.

Unlike other years where the Capitals roster had only a few jobs available, the turnover in Washington’s lineup has created more opportunity. The defense will have a much younger look while as many as eight different forwards are competing for jobs this week.

“It will play out in time,” said Pirates coach Tim Army. “Defense is a big question mark for them and up front, there are jobs still available. There are a lot of guys we could get still. There are a lot of variables yet.”

Washington currently has 30 players and will pare down to 23 by opening night. With three games in four nights this week, the Caps will keep some extra players on hand for depth.

“With the waiver draft this week, we’ll have some decisions there,” said Washington coach Bruce Cassidy. “We would like to get down to 23 and we’ll look to get down to 25 sometime this week.

On the blue line, the Capitals lost Calle Johansson and Ken Klee. Sergei Gonchar and Brendan Witt are the two most veteran defenders and Jason Doig is likely to be the third defensemen. From there, the blue line isn’t as certain. Joel Kwiatkowski and Rick Berry saw ample action last year. Josef Boumedienne and J.F. Fortin have shown potential in brief stints with the club, while prospects Steve Eminger and Nolan Yonkman appear on the verge of making the team. Washington hopes to get Yonkman, who has been injured, in the lineup this week. John Gruden is also in the mix, signed as a free agent this summer to provide depth at some level.

“What usually happens, I find, is guys play themselves off the team more than play themselves on,” said Cassidy. “As the course of camp goes on, some kids that have been here since rookie camp and other guys that have been here two or three weeks, they start to show their lack of strength.”

Up front, the Capitals top three lines appear set. The fourth line is where the jobs are. Center Brian Sutherby appears to be a lock on that line. Alexander Semin, Boyd Gordon, Trent Whitfield, Darcy Verot and Matt Pettinger are all in the chase. Stephen Peat and Alex Henry are two other forwards vying for the enforcer role.

Semin and Gordon are both promising 19-year olds. If Semin doesn’t make the club, he’ll go back to his team in Russia while Gordon would go to the minors.

“We’re still watching guys like Semin and Gordon,” said Cassidy. “I don’t know if anybody’s really stepped out. Semin has the puck a lot, but he just needs to learn to get the puck away.”

The Caps know what they get with Whitfield and Pettinger has had one of his best camps. Verot has attracted attention with his tenacity.

“He gives us some energy,” said Cassidy. “He plays hard. He finishes his checks. We didn’t know if he could skate at this level. It hasn’t been a hindrance for him at all. He’s even had a goal and an assist. So he’s made a few plays for us. He’s been good on faceoffs and the penalty kill. He’s one of those depth guys you can insert into your lineup here or there.”

In goal, Olaf Kolzig is the top guy. Sebastien Charpentier is penciled in as the backup but an arthritis condition has kept him out of the lineup. Maxime Ouellet is still with the club, getting the nod over Rastislav Stana because of his experience and his strong performance last season.

Pirates notes: While Washington’s preseason slate winds down this week, Portland’s begins tonight in Nashua, N.H., against Lowell. The Pirates then host Manchester at the Biddeford Ice Arena at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Their last two games come Saturday against Lowell at 7 p.m. at the Cumberland County Civic Center and Sunday in Salem, N.H., against Manchester at 2 p.m.

Both home games will feature 4 p.m. games between the Portland Junior Pirates and respective teams from Manchester and Lowell.

[email protected]