The reaper came to LA's training camp yesterday afternoon, as almost half of the roster was cut:
Assigned to Ontario Reign (AHL):
Mike Amadio – F
Stepan Falkovsky – D
Kevin Gravel – D
Boko Imama – F
Zachary Leslie – D
Alex Lintuniemi – D
Matt Luff – F
Cal Petersen – G
Chaz Reddekopp – D
Matt Roy – D
Spencer Watson – F
Jeff Zatkoff – G
Assigned to Ontario Reign Training Camp:
Jamie Devane – F
TJ Hensick – F
Sam Herr – F
Keegan Iverson – F
Sam Kurker – F
Philippe Maillet – F
Matt Marcinew – F
Matt Schmalz – F
Tomas Sholl – G
Brett Sutter – F
Sean Walker – D
Released from PTO:
Andrei Loktionov – F
Assigned to Junior Teams:
Jaret Anderson-Dolan – F (Spokane, WHL)
Kale Clague – D (Brandon, OHL)
Also, Michael Mersch and Andrew Crescenzi were placed on waivers. Both are expected to be unclaimed and return to the Reign.
In this group, Gravel's re-assignment might come as the biggest surprise. After all, he played over half of last season with the big club. But with questions about the firmness of his game persisting and an unconvincing pre-season display -- check the tape from the Vegas exhibition -- the tall, mobile defender, who is waiver-exempt, will get a lot of minutes in Ontario to re-assert himself.
Iafallo offers LA some speed off the wings, but coming right out of college, remains unseasoned at the pro level.
Auger brings a different element. The 6'7" winger's physicality and length and surprising feet make for a disruptive force on the forecheck and penalty kill.
Auger looks like a griffin, taking on Jon Merrill, Luca Sbisa, and Tomas Nosek to win the puck.
Here, Auger closes on Jonathan Marchessault's power play attempt with a nimble first step and long stick.
While his NHL scoring potential remains limited, he could prove to be a useful addition to the team's fourth line.
For a little while, it looked like both Christian Folin and Oscar Fantenberg had vaulted ahead of MacDermid for a depth roster spot. Folin and Fantenberg had been allotted significantly more ice time in previous pre-season tilts. But Gravel's demotion and MacDermid's work has apparently shifted the math.
Anyway, this serves as a reminder to myself to not read too much into pre-season playing time. As Jon Rosen noted about MacDermid:
He’s done everything possible to put himself in position to open the year with the group and appears to be playing his way onto the team. The Kings love how well he listens and builds relationships with the coaches and how well he understands the game. He’s also noted for the work he puts in during the season and off-season in the gym. Stick taps to MacDermid, who won’t back down for anyone, for scrapping with Deryk Engelland in last night’s game.
Stylistically, I prefer Fantenberg or Lee's skill-sets, but MacDermid certainly boasts an element of toughness missing on LA's blueline. He's also a solid penalty killer.
Iafallo is waiver-exempt, while Auger and MacDermid are not.
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Fan favorite Jordan Nolan was claimed on waivers by the Buffalo Sabres yesterday.
I was surprised that Nolan couldn't garner at least a low draft pick, but the fact that he was even claimed does speak to his perceived value. Cutting Nolan also saves Los Angeles $950,000 on the cap.
It's hard to believe both 2012 call-ups Nolan and Dwight King are gone. King is toiling in eastern Russia with the KHL's Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg.
Yekaterinburg also happens to be colder than Buffalo, clocking a record low of -52.1 °F compared to Buffalo's -29.
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