Three games into preseason, the Florida Panthers made some serious roster moves and now have 35 players remaining in training camp.
First, they have assigned the following players to their AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds.
F Chase Balisy
F Graham Black
F Juho Lammikko
D Josh Brown
D Michael Downing
D Linus Hulstrom
G Sam Brittain
G Colin Stevens
A common theme among these names, is that none of them are really surprises. Depending on Roberto Luongo’s health and what is done with Reto Berra, Brittain could very well be the starter in Springfield.
Brown spent most of his first professional season in the ECHL with the Manchester Monarchs. Stevens played 28 games with the same Monarchs team.
These players were released from their tryout contracts, and will report to Springfield to continue training camp.
F Rihards Bukarts
F Anthony Greco
F Zac Lynch
D Ed Wittchow
Both Greco, Lynch, and Wittchow wrapped up their own respective four year college careers last season and will look to make the transition to the pro game. Lynch left Robert Morris as the school’s all time leading scorer, Greco is coming from Ohio State and Wittchow from Wisconsin.
The next three are no longer waiver exempt, and will now have to be exposed to the rest of the teams in the league before they can be sent to Springfield.
D Jonathan Racine
D Brent Regner
G Mike McKenna
Regner played seven games with the Panthers last year, but spent the majority of the season with Portland. Racine has registered 22 points in a tad over three years in the AHL, playing in a lone game with the NHL club in that span.
Journeyman goalie McKenna started over 50 games last season for Portland, but could lose time to Brittain this year.
19 year old Samuel Montembeault was returned to his junior team, Blainville Boisbriand Armada of the QMJHL. He has started 99 games the past two years with Blainville and was the sixth goalie taken overall in the 2015 draft.
The last three players were released from their PTOs.
F Justin Fontaine
F Ryan Horvat
F Stephen MacAualey
Fontaine was an interesting case, having some success at the NHL level, but ultimately the depth that the Panthers added this offseason was too much to overcome. Horvat has played the last two years in the Los Angeles Kings’ organization.
MacAualey played four years with the Saint John’s Sea Dogs in the QMJHL before getting a brief cup of coffee in the AHL before spending the last couple of years at the Canadian college level.
With 35 players left on the roster, the Panthers will have to cut at least 12 more people to get to the maximum 23 number.
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