Just as I expected, earlier today New Jersey made its second round of training camp cuts. A total of 9 players were reassigned, with 8 coming to Albany and 1 returning to juniors. The roster now stands at 28, with a Monday deadline to reduce the roster to 23. Most were expected, but there was one I was a little surprised to see at first. The lone junior returnee is Damon Severson, on his way back to Kelowna (he had told me at the end of last season he had one more year left with the Rockets) of the WHL. Coming back to Albany are Scott Wedgewood, Brandon Burlon, Eric Gelinas, Jon Merrill, Stefan Matteau, Rod Pelley, Tim Sestito, and Mike Sislo, fresh off doing this last night:
I’m expecting all will join the other group already in camp in time for tomorrow’s preseason opener in Hartford against the Wolfpack. Pelley and Matteau are the only “new faces” so to speak of this group–Pelley is rejoining the organization after 2 seasons away, while Matteau…well, the 2012 first rounder has had quite the interesting last year or so, shall we say?
A little surprising to see Gelinas among the second round of cuts, he appeared in 3 of 5 games and registered a goal against the Rangers in the first game. But it also came down to his contract status–he was eligible to be sent down without having to clear waivers. The rest were all expected, with Keith Kinkaid sticking around as a third goalie in New Jersey for a few more days. There are still 5 more players to be dealt with, but many of those still standing (Alexander Urbom, Jacob Josefson, Mattias Tedenby, Cam Janssen to name a few) would have to clear waivers before they can be sent down. Come Monday it will be interesting to see the final roster decisions made and how it would affect things down here.
Thoughts Inside The Box 