Lightning preseason roster reduced substantially
by John Fontana on Sep 26, 2010 5:48 PM EDT
in Lightning Team News
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PrintWhen the Lightning departed the Tampa Bay metro area on Tuesday for their western sojourn of the past week, the team carried a total of 52 players. There had been an inkling made by GM Steve Yzerman that first cuts would come after the team returned from Calgary... And that seems to have come to fruitation.
The Lightning preseason roster is down to 28 players after todays cuts of 21 players. Among them, six need pass through waivers in order to be demoted (Mike Angelidis, Mitch Fritz, Blair Jones, Paul Szczechura, Juraj Simek, and Vladimir Mihalik) while two others were released from tryout (Tim Marks and Mark Fornataro).
Though cuts have their bad side (seeing popular players like James "Killer" Wright sent down, and promising Alex Hutchings as well as others), this gives us a chance to finally realize the true position battles that are in place for the Lightning.
First off, the complete list of cuts as per the team:
Player ; Assigned To
Mike Angelidis * ; Norfolk (AHL)
Mark Barberio ; Norfolk (AHL)
Alex Berry ; Norfolk (AHL)
Mitch Fadden ; Norfolk (AHL)
Matt Fornataro ; Released from tryout
Mitch Fritz * ; Norfolk (AHL)
Stefano Giliati ; Norfolk (AHL)
Radko Gudas ; Norfolk (AHL)
Alex Hutchings ; Norfolk (AHL)
Scott Jackson ; Norfolk (AHL)
Jaroslav Janus ; Norfolk (AHL)
Blair Jones * ; Norfolk (AHL)
Tim Marks ; Released from tryout
Vladimir Mihalik * ; Norfolk (AHL)
Niklas Persson ; Norfolk (AHL)
Kevin Quick ; Norfolk (AHL)
Juraj Simek * ; Norfolk (AHL)
Paul Szczechura * ; Norfolk (AHL)
Dustin Tokarski ; Norfolk (AHL)
Ty Wishart ; Norfolk (AHL)
James Wright ; Norfolk (AHL)
* - Must clear waivers
Some thoughts:
First thing of note that came to my mind was the fact Cedrick Desjardins was not also demoted. Dejardins and Dan Ellis both spent time starting during the four game week. This move is probably insurance as Mike Smith continues to heal from his broken finger.
Secondly, despite praise from Guy Boucher, Blair Jones goes back to the AHL.
Meanwhile, camp invitee Eric Perrin remains with the squad, as do wings Dana Tyrell and Johan Harju and center Marc-Antoine Pouliot. That keeps the forward field crowded as the team tries to sort out it's bottom six. On defense, Mike Vernace, Matt Smaby and Matthieu Roy will all battle for the seventh and eighth defenseman spot on the roster. I'm actually surprised at the defensive cuts knowing that Randy Jones, Smaby and Roy are all battlign injuries right now.
So what are your thoughts on the cuts and what we need to watch for in the final days of the Lightning preseason?
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The AHL is a good thing long run for Killer but it does make things less fun. Kind of surprised guys like Dana Tyrell, Perrin, and Pouliot made the cut over him. Not sour grapes just a little surprised.
Also surprised about Chewy.
It's all hot bishes, naps, and dance parties
The problem is, the team is stacked at center.
Vinny, Stamkos, Moore, Thompson… Then add Pouliot (who also plays wing).
The battle was going to be for third and fourth line wing, and that still seems to be the case. Bergenheim, Purcell, Pouliot, Perrin, Harju, Tyrell (and I am missing someone) all trying to earn places on Moore adn Thompson’s wing.
I think what worked against Killer the most was the sheer glut of players in camp.
"Seen Cincuenta" -- 04.10.10 -- Raw Charge.
by John Fontana on Sep 26, 2010 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah that makes
sense. And the Lightning are investing in him long term at center. Not wing.
It's all hot bishes, naps, and dance parties
Right
I don’t know what Jon Cooper will do with him in Norfolk but seeing him on the top line may not be out of the question.
"Seen Cincuenta" -- 04.10.10 -- Raw Charge.
by John Fontana on Sep 26, 2010 6:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Good insight
…as always, John.
I, too, am surprised Cedric the Entertainer wasn’t sent to Norfolk. Thought it might be tempting to put him into the backup position on the NHL club, that’s just not going to happen. He’s too young, and the cost of sending Smitty or Ellis to Norfolk too high.
Wishart and Blair Jones have got to be fighting some significant frustration by this point. I really liked Blair’s game against Chicago, and thought he had a shot for the bottom 6 forwards (Thompson’s line?).
Who I forgot: Adam Hall
For what it’s worth, a year ago I presumed Hall as a no-brainer to make the Lightning roster… :
There is a lot of support for Perrin, but if it came down to Hall or Perrin, who would you chose?
"Seen Cincuenta" -- 04.10.10 -- Raw Charge.
What about Chris Durno?
Will Bergenheim be reading for opening night? Last I heard he was still wearing a non-contact jersey in practice. I think penalty killing ability, toughness. speed and experience all have an effect on who eventually makes the squad. I think Bergenheim is a lock if he’s healthy enough to start the season. That leaves the battle for 3rd line right winger, all 3 bottom line positions ( with Thompson as the favorite at center ) and the 13th forward spot. So in essence it’s 8 guys battling for 5 spots.
Don in St Pete
by Don in St Pete on Sep 27, 2010 11:35 AM EDT reply actions
Durno was another player I forgot Don.
Thanks for reminding me.
I’m not sure if Sean is going to be ready or not. I think injuries are dictating guys being held on in camp (Desjardins, Vernace). That probably holds true with theForward position too.
"Seen Cincuenta" -- 04.10.10 -- Raw Charge.
by John Fontana on Sep 27, 2010 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Forget Durno
The just put Durno on waivers. I see this move in one of 2 ways. Yzerman has found an enforcer or middleweight we can claim or trade for. Or perhaps Perrin might get offered a contract.
Don in St Pete
He's on the bubble to-the-hilt
Passing through waivers, it makes him eligible to be sent down. I guess it could accurately be described as a three-way race between Perrin, Tyrell and Durno… I don’t think Dana has to pass through waivers. Perrin needs to be signed…
"Seen Cincuenta" -- 04.10.10 -- Raw Charge.
by John Fontana on Sep 30, 2010 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions
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