For those of you who missed it yesterday, the Ducks cut the roster to 32 players yesterday. Here is a list from Ducks.com of who did not make the big club:
Assigned to Norfolk (AHL): Matt Bailey - Center Igor Bobkov - Goaltender Kevin Gagne - Defenseman Nicolas Kerdiles - Left wing John Kurtz - Left wing Louis Leblanc - Center/Right wing Stefan Noesen - Right wing Andrew O’Brien - Defenseman Assigned to Peterborough (OHL): Nick Ritchie - Left wing Released from professional tryout and assigned to Norfolk (AHL): Brendan Bell - Defenseman Steve MacIntyre - Left wing David Steckel - Center Brad Winchester - Left wing Released from professional tryout: Brandon Yip - Right wing
The Departed
Most of the guys sent out were expected. I was mildly surprised that Bobkov is gone because he has been the most solid goalie on the roster during camp. Stefan Noesan and Nic Kediles are two guys I thought would have stuck around through this weekend. Both have played well in the preseason and are highly thought of by the organization. There is a place in this league for someone with David Steckel's faceoff skills, he may get a shot somewhere else.
Nick Ritchie going back to juniors certainly isn't a shock. He played well in camp, but the writing was on the wall. Even with a tight competition for roster spots, I would have liked to see him stay up for the first few games of the season. It would have been good for him to continue to work out with the big club. Additionally, the backstage pass would have given him an insight about becoming a professional. This wasn't his year, but he will be an NHL player within two years.
The Remaining
There are now 32 players in camp, competing for 22ish roster spots. 22ish because Kyle Palmieri is not 100% and may miss the opener. In reality, there might be four spots up for grabs.
The battle for the two goaltending spots is like the vote for Miss Congeniality. None of Frederik Andersen, John Gibson or Jason LaBarbera has stepped up and “won… the job. They all seem to be leaving the door open for someone else.
On defense, even though there are 12 players remaining, Bryan Allen and Mark Fistric are still fighting it out for the role of seventh man. Shea Theodore is on the roster, but is injured. Jessie Blacker, Mat Clark and Josh Manson are still with the team, but it is highly unlikely any of them sticks.
Up front there are five players battling for one spot (maybe two depending on Palmieri). The contenders are Emerson Etem, Max Friberg, Tim Jackman, William Karlsson and Christopher Wagner. This one is going down to the wire and will come down to what the role of the 13th forward is, when he gets in. If coach Bruce Boudreau has little use for the extra forward, Jackman should get the job because he will be least affected by sitting out long stretches and the others will benefit from the playing time they get in Norfolk. If the plan is to rotate the extra forward through the lineup and actually get some playing time; Etem, Friberg and Karlsson are all deserving at this point.
Quick Note
Dany Heatley is out for at least a week with a Lower Body Injury that he sustained in the Kings game. Patrick Maroon is filling his spot on the top line.
-Ed