As teams start into their preseason schedule, the first round of cuts will send mostly junior-aged players back to their respective clubs. Rosters will be pared down slightly, with teams like the Philadelphia Flyers and Nashville Predators already making moves earlier today. Below we’ll list some of the other cuts, as well as any minor moves around the league.
- The Colorado Avalanche have cut five players today, sending Sam Brittain and Ben Storm to the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL, while Josh Anderson, Tom Gregoire and Hugo Roy will all return to their respective junior teams. Anderson should not be confused with the Columbus Blue Jackets’ restricted free agent currently holding out; this one is a defenseman with the Prince George Cougars, who was selected in the third round of the 2016 draft.
- The San Jose Sharks have cut 13 players from their training camp roster, sending Noah Gregor and Joachim Blichfeld back to junior, while assigning Michael Brodzinski, Cavan Fitzgerald, David Makowski, Jeremy Roy, Jonathan Martin, Colby McAuley, Bryan Moore, Alex Schoenborn, Alexander True, Manuel Wiederer and Stephon Williams to AHL camp. 42 players remain in Sharks camp, which will continue to be whittled down by the start of the year.
- The Montreal Canadians have sent Antoine Samuel back to Baie-Comeau of the QMJHL, where he will likely be the starter once again. Samuel went undrafted, but will try to earn himself a professional contract playing as a CHL over-aged player this season.
- Boston has sent Cedric Pare back to the Saint John Sea Dogs, making him their lone cut on Monday afternoon. Pare was selected in the sixth round this summer, and will try to improve his offensive game this season in the QMJHL.
- The St. Louis Blues have sent Tanner Kaspick, Trenton Bourque, David Noel and Evan Fitzpatrick back to their junior teams, reducing their training camp roster to 47. Fitzpatrick is easily the most interesting of the bunch, as a second-round pick last year. The 19-year old goalie will return to Sherbrooke and continue his development in the QMJHL.
- After acquiring another defenseman this weekend, the Arizona Coyotes have sent Noel Hoefenmayer, Cam Dineen, MacKenzie Entwistle, Nate Schnarr and Tyler Steenbergen back to their respective junior teams. The Coyotes have also released Michael Houser and Scott Allen from their professional tryouts. 48 players are now in their camp, which will continue to be reduced as we near the season.
- The Detroit Red Wings have sent Zach Gallant, Brady Gilmour, Lane Zablocki, Cole Fraser, Jordan Sambrook and Reilly Webb back to junior, while releasing Oliver Castleman, Isaac Johnson, Sean Josling, Luke Kutkevicius, Marcus Crawford, Evan Fiala and Corbin Boes from their tryouts.
- Pittsburgh has returned Jan Drozg, Zachary Lauzon, Alex D’Orio and Connor Hall to their respective CHL teams, reducing their training camp number to 55. D’Orio was just signed to an entry-level contract last week, after going undrafted in the recent entry draft.