On the eve of its first exhibition game, the Avalanche Tuesday assigned 17 players to its American Hockey League affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters; returned five draft choices to their major junior teams; and released veteran minor-league defenseman J.P. Cote, who had been attending training camp on a professional tryout basis.
There were no huge surprises in the moves, which leave the Avalanche with a 36-man roster heading into tonight’s exhibition opener against the Los Angeles Kings at the Pepsi Center.
Goaltender Tyler Weiman’s demotion to Lake Erie this early might have been a mild upset, and journeyman Jason Bacashihua is the only other goalie on the roster heading into the six exhibition games, joining expected No. 1 Peter Budaj and backup Andrew Raycroft. Weiman allowed six goals in the team’s intrasquad game Monday night at the Air Force Academy.
Also sent to Lake Erie were: centers J.D. Corbin, the Littleton native and former University of Denver standout, Codey Burki, Bryan Marshall, T.J. Galiardi, Chris Mueller, and Marty Sertich, the former Colorado College star; left wings Jack Combs, Chris Durno, and Tom Fritsche; right wings Rob Drummond and Mark McCutcheon; defensemen Ray Macias, Wes O’Neill, Derek Peltier and Nigel Williams; and goalie Ian Keserich.
Recent draft choices returned to their major-junior teams for more seasoning included defensemen Joel Chouinard and Cameron Gaunce, center Kelsey Tessier, and goalies Peter Delmas and Trevor Cann. Colorado drafted Cann in 2007, the other four in 2008.
After Tuesday’s training-camp practice at Family Sports Center, but before the cuts were announced in the afternoon, Avalanche coach Tony Granato said the decisions so far have been difficult.
“We have depth,” he said. “We had a lot of decisions about who was going to play in the Burgundy-White game, decisions on who was going to be cut, decisions on who would be sent back. They’re way more difficult I think that at any time in our organization, at least since I’ve been here.
“We’re impressed a lot with our draft picks, a lot with the guys from Cleveland, and with a lot of the free-agent guys, the tryout guys. Everyone came in here and showed why someone in our organization, or lots of people in our organization, were excited about getting them into camp.
“That makes it harder, but it’s a somewhat good position to be in, knowing that these guys are going to be somewhere else, but are players someday that will be in your lineup.”
Among those remaining on the 36-man roster are AHL veteran defenseman Aaron MacKenzie, the DU captain in 2002-03.
Stastny, yes; Wolski, no
Paul Stastny, who didn’t play in the Burgundy-White game, skated Monday and practiced Tuesday in the wake of the shoulder contusion he suffered over the weekend. “He’ll be ready to play in the exhibition season,” Granato said.
Winger Wojtek Wolski could remain off the ice for another week because of his foot injury, however. The Avs had hoped he could return to practice Tuesday, but that timetable has been shoved back.
The list of players trimmed from the Avs’ preseason roster and where they were sent:
C Codey Burki … Lake Erie (AHL)
G Trevor Cann … Peterborough (OHL)
D Joel Chouinard … Victoriaville (QMJHL)
LW Jack Combs … Lake Erie (AHL)
C J.D. Corbin … Lake Erie (AHL)
D J.P. Cote … Released
G Peter Delmas … Lewiston (QMJHL)
RW Rob Drummond … Lake Erie (AHL)
LW Chris Durno … Lake Erie (AHL)
LW Tom Fritsche … Lake Erie (AHL)
C T.J. Galiardi … Lake Erie (AHL)
D Cameron Gaunce … Mississauga St. Michael’s (OHL)
G Ian Keserich … Lake Erie (AHL)
D Ray Macias … Lake Erie (AHL)
C Bryan Marshall … Lake Erie (AHL)
RW Mark McCutcheon … Lake Erie (AHL)
C Chris Mueller … Lake Erie (AHL)
D Wes O’Neill … Lake Erie (AHL)
D Derek Peltier … Lake Erie (AHL)
C Marty Sertich … Lake Erie (AHL)
C Kelsey Tessier … Quebec (QMJHL)
G Tyler Weiman … Lake Erie (AHL)
D Nigel Williams … Lake Erie (AHL)
