Three of the club's 2024 draft picks were assigned back to their junior clubs, while one was assigned to the Tucson Roadrunners.
Head coach Andre Tourigny said roster cuts were coming, and the club made them a reality with four more to trim the original 64-man slate down to 58.
On Friday, the club announced 2024 draft picks Gabe Smith, Tomas Lavoie, and Veeti Vaisanen would be assigned back to their junior programs.
Smith (no. 103 overall, fourth round), was sent back to Moncton of the QMJHL, Lavoie (no. 89 overall, third round), will return to Cape Breton, also in the Q, and Vaisanen (no. 96 overall, third round), is heading back to Medicine Hat of the WHL.
Speaking of Steve Potvin, he now has another forward to work with, as the club announced Saturday after the first session of practice that forward Egor Sokolov, acquired via trade with the Ottawa Senators this summer, would be waived and reassigned to the Tucson Roadrunners.
With the roster now at 58, more cuts are expected ahead of and after the final few pre-season games, starting tomorrow at Colorado.
UPDATE: After the second session of practices Saturday, the club made the following moves:
Assigned to Tucson Roadrunners
- Miko Matikka
- Owen Allard
- Julian Lutz
- Noel Nordh
- Artem Duda
- Anson Thornton
- Jaxson Stauber
Returning to Tucson Roadrunners following PTO
- Ryan McGregor
- Austin Poganski
- Hunter Drew
- Will Gavin
- Peter DiLiberatore
- Lleyton Moore
- Robbie Russo
Returning to junior clubs
- Terrell Goldsmith (Tri-City, WHL)
- Justin Kipkie (Victoria, WHL)
- Cole Beaudoin (no. 24 overall pick, 2024; Barrie, OHL)