Alexandre Texier is all but a lock to make the Jackets opening day roster. As we all know he played in last seasons playoffs and contributed with 2 goals and an assist. Skating in Traverse City he played center and has seen top-line time at wing in the preseason. So, where does he get slotted in the line up? More discussion on that in a minute...
Here are the announced cuts thus far:
Dillon Simpson (D), Matiss Kivlenieks (G) and Brad Thiessen (G) were all moved off the training camp roster on September 22 and are expected to report to Cleveland. Simpson will have to clear waivers.
Yesterday Adam Clendening (D), Zac Dalpe (C), Markus Hannikainen (W) and Ryan MacInnis (C) were assigned to Cleveland but also have to go through the waiver process. Veini Vehvilainen (G) and Doyle Somerby (D) will go to the Monsters but do not have to go through waivers.
On September 21 a host of players assigned to the AHL: Trey Fix-Wolansky, Maxime Fortier, Eric Robinson, Kole Sherwood, Kevin Stenlund, Gabriel Carlsson, Ryan Collins, Michael Prapavessis, Paul Bittner, Nathan Gerbe and Justin Scott. Derek Barach, Brett Gallant, Nikita Korostelev, Stefan Matteau, Bryan Moore, Sam Vigneault and Anton Karlsson were released from their tryout contract. Some should make an impact in CLE and the majority of these guys will stay in the AHL or ECHL this season.
That puts 3 goaltenders from CBJ camp in Cleveland. My guess is that one of them may not stick. VV would get the early nod as the favorite to be the #1 goalie in CLE.
Markus Hannikainen going to the AHL was a bit surprising. He looked to fill a 4th line role that will now to go to one of the prospects. Maybe Lilja, maybe Dano, maybe Milano...we will have to wait and see.
Clendening ended up as the odd man out on the blue line. The story to watch on the CBJ D-corp is Andrew Peeke. He captained the prospects team in Traverse City and has held his own in the preseason. Could he be ahead of Harrington and Kukan at this point?
Texier
While he skated at the center position in Traverse City, and played well at the pivot, he has been playing the wing position in the preseason. Will he move into a 2 or 3 center or on the top-line wing along side Cam and PLD? It seems the coaching staff is high on this 20-year-old and is ready to let him prove his talent. Torts loves to shuffle his lines on any given night if things aren't working, so it is a safe bet that Tex sees some top-line minutes. The alternative is Nyquist or Bjork on the first line. Looks like those two may play together on the 2nd line.
Thoughts on what you would do with lines? Post them in the comments.
Thanks for reading