Following last night’s 3-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in the pre-season opener at Amalie Arena, Tampa Bay Lightning General Manager Steve Yzerman announced this morning that the club has made their first cuts, reassigning 22 players. Notable names on the list include 2016 first round draft choice Brett Howden, Bokondji Imama, who scored a goal in last night’s loss, Ryan Verbeek, nephew of Lightning Director of Pro Scouting Pat Verbeek and Christopher Paquette, cousin of Lightning forward Cedric Paquette. 53 players remain on the current 2016 training camp roster.
The players that have been reassigned are as follows:
FORWARDS (12)
ALAIN, Alexandre – INVITEE assigned to Gatineau (QMJHL)
CIRELLI, Anthony – ’15 Draft (3rd Rd) assigned to Oshawa (OHL)
HOWDEN, Brett – ’16 Draft (1st Rd) assigned to Moose Jaw (WHL)
IMAMA, Bokondji – ’15 Draft (7th Rd) assigned to Saint John (QMJHL)
JOSEPH, Mathieu – ’15 Draft (4th Rd) assigned to Saint John (QMJHL)
KATCHOUK, Boris -’16 Draft (2nd Rd) assigned to Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
PAQUETTE, Christopher – ’16 Draft (5th Rd) assigned to Niagara (OHL)
RADDYSH, Taylor – ’16 Draft (2nd Rd) assigned to Erie (OHL)
SCHEIDL, Lane – INVITEE assigned to Kalamazoo (ECHL)
SOMPPI, Otto – ’16 Draft (7th Rd) assigned to Halifax (QMJHL)
VERBEEK, Ryan – INVITEE assigned to Kingston (OHL)
YAN, Dennis – ’15 Draft (3rd Rd) assigned to Shawinigan (QMJHL)
DEFENSEMAN (7)
HAJEK, Libor – ’16 Draft (2nd Rd) assigned to Saskatoon (WHL)
HENLEY, David – INVITEE assigned to Vald-d’Or (QMJHL)
MURRAY, Jordan – INVITEE assigned to University of New Brunswick (AUS)
O’ROURKE, Sean – INVITEE assigned to Kalamazoo (ECHL)
SPENCER, Matt – ’15 Draft (2nd Rd) assigned to Peterborough (OHL)
VASATURO, Charlie – INVITEE assigned to Kalamazoo (ECHL)
WILSON, Ben – INVITEE assigned to Kalamazoo (ECHL)
GOALTENDERS (3)
GRAMETBAUER, Mark – INVITEE assigned to Gatineau (QMJHL)
INGRAM, Conner – ’16 Draft (3rd Rd) assigned to Kamloops (WHL)
MARTIN, Joel – INVITEE assigned to Kalamazoo (ECHL)
The Lightning’s next exhibition game is tomorrow at Amalie Arena when they host division rivals the Florida Panthers.
