From today's transactions:
Atlanta Thrashers - Assigned left wings Zdenek Blatny, Simon
Gamache and Brian Maloney, right wing Brad Tapper, center
Derek MacKenzie and defensemen Joe DiPenta, Luke Sellars, Libor
Ustrnul and Mike Weaver to Chicago of the American Hockey
League; released center Jason Bonsignore from his tryout
agreement.
That's a cut of 10 players. The roster is now down to 33. Ten more remain to be cut, barring injury.
The only one I find a bit surprising is Derek MacKenzie. I thought he earned the right to stick around. Why he was cut while Eric Healey wasn't is a mystery. Shawn Heins has been equally unimpressive. Veterans are being given a serious benefit of the doubt here. I guess I'm more surprised by who wasn't cut than by who was cut.
Looks like they are keeping Coburn for Tuesday's game. Portland doesn't play again until the 25th. Of course it might have to do with not being able to send down an injured player. You have to keep them until they are well.
Not to mention these three but they haven't done anything either, Bill Lindsay was a minus in two games Santala hasn't done anything and Swanson can't play the role of 4th line checking center....I think Wadell and Hartley need to get there heads examined........
It is also very possible that Mac got sent down because the staff is more familiar with him. Perhaps they need to see more of the new faces before they decide what to do with them.
Good point, Voynich. roots sounds like a bitter MacKenzie fan, not an objective Thrashers fan. Did you catch any of the training camp scrimmages or games, roots?
Actually, I'm glad to hear that some of you found MacKenzie productive in camp. He's really yet to establish himself as a potential NHLer. Here's to hoping he can maximize his time in Chi-town and have the organization make some tough decisions regarding call ups
