Bridgeport got a slew of players today and sent out over half as many itself. The Islanders announced as we got back from practice that Scott Mayfield is on waivers to come down, and another nine were assigned: goalies Christopher Gibson and Stephon Williams; defensemen Devon Toews, Matt Finn, Jesse Graham and Kyle Burroughs; and forwards Josh Ho-Sang, Michael Dal Colle and Ross Johnston. Tanner Fritz and Colin Markison are also on their way down, released from their NHL tryouts. Arthur Staple has said that Steve Bernier, also released today, is a candidate to come here.
Bridgeport, meanwhile, let seven players go: Goalie Eric Hartzell’s off to Fort Wayne; defenseman Derik Johnson goes to Reading; and defenseman Sam Noreau and forwards Dan Correale, Shawn Pauly, Rocco Carzo and Lukas Lofquist go to Missouri. (Lofquist is on an AHL contract; the others are released from their tryouts.) Edit, 1:03: Add goalie Clay Witt to that list. Not sure where he heads.
“Those guys played very well last night as a group,” Brent Thompson said. But it becomes a numbers game very quickly, particularly when a dozen guys are on their way. “Correale, Pauly, they need to get (to Missouri) playing their systems so when we need call-ups, those guys are ready.”
The ins and outs put Bridgeport’s roster at 33 or 34 32 or 33: 18 forwards, 11 defensemen (with Mayfield a potential 12th) and four three goalies. Not sure if Bridgeport waits out Saturday’s preseason game to get closer to 20-something or starts doing it incrementally, sooner.
These decisions are being made everywhere, obviously: Hartford, which was in the 40s last night, let go 15 players, including Mike Pereira; Andrey Pedan is on waivers to Utica.