And we're back. #bst pic.twitter.com/zejRZgsWOE
— Michael Fornabaio (@fornabaioctp) October 6, 2015
Got my old seat and everything.
New boards! New glass! New lines!
F: Beck-Kearns-Whitney
Petrov-Quine-Halmo
Johnston-B.Holmstrom-Gomes
Vaive-Wright-Florek
C.Jones-Verhaeghe-Collberg
(Rowe – no-contact)
D: Pelech-Mayfield
Czuczman-Carkner
Finn-Graham
Cullity-Leduc
Burroughs-Nilsson
G: Gibson
Milner
R: T.Koharski. L: Galvin, Redding. (Wait, not yet…)
And Louis Leblanc was in town, not allowed to practice as an AHLer until he cleared waivers, which he did at noon. Speaking of noon: The goaltending situation changed after they got off the ice. The Islanders claimed J.F. Berube from the L.A. Kings. That should push Stephon Williams to the Sound Tigers to start the season, much as was expected when Jaro Halak was healthy.
Just three two tryouts remaining, Andrew Rowe (who Thompson said has been dealing with an upper-body injury since early in camp) (Edit, 3:30: Rowe’s an AHL contract. Sorry, wire crossed), Connor Jones and Patrick Cullity (one of just four lefties out of 10 defensemen, though Burroughs is still technically on NHL injured reserve). “Obviously the guys who stuck around earned their spot,” Brent Thompson. “They were really tough decisions. Some really good hockey players we had to let go. They’re in our system. They’re going to get opportunities — injuries, call-ups, there’s always going to be opportunities.”
Five lines (plus one now with Leblanc, plus Rowe) and 10 defensemen is, for most purposes, a lot. Some moves are likely coming, but the timetable isn’t necessarily set. With a three-in-four to start the season, Thompson said he doesn’t mind having a few extra bodies around.
Did I mention that the helmets now have numbers on the front, like in the NHL? The helmets now have numbers on the front, like in the NHL. (They also have a rather large ad for a cable company on both sides.)
Busy day breaking up last year’s Calder Cup champs: Brian O’Neill was traded to New Jersey, breaking up the ex-Yalies in ManchestErOntario.
And best wishes to Kinsey Janke, leaving the AHL office for Tampa Bay.