Penguins Reduce Roster By 11

As expected, the Penguins made their first meaningful set of training camp cuts today, sending 11 players to Wilkes-Barre Scranton of the American Hockey League.

Goaltenders Brad Thiessen and John Curry were among the cuts, and that's no surprise considering that the Penguins' goaltending chores this coming season have always been Marc-Andre Fleury and Brent Johnson's to handle.

On the blueline, Steve Wagner, Brian Strait, Corey Potter and Robert Bortozzo will head across the state.

Strait, Potter and Bortozzo all had good camps, but in the end, none of them were probably likely to crack the roster.  All could be a decent fill-in as a call-up, however.

Wagner didn't really distinguish himself during camp, and it can't be a shock to anyone that he is in this group. 

Up front, Joe Vitale, Tim Wallace and Chris Conner got the bump.  Again, nothing really surprising there.  While Wallace and Conner have filled in capably as call-ups in prior seasons, nobody can realistically argue they deserve to stick at this point.

Nick Johnson also will go to Wilkes-Barre.

Some in the organization feel Johnson is the Penguins' most well-rounded prospect, but while he scored two goals this pre-season, his practices were somewhat inconsistent.  Again, I don't think anyone can argue it was unjustified to send him down.  Johnson will still be in the mix to see NHL time at some point this season.

The last guy to go was Brett Sterling, a player who some thought might have a chance to make the team. 

While I'm a little surprised he didn't survive this round of cuts, part of me understands the move.  Sterling showed some potential as a goal scorer -- and that's been his pedigree -- but the reality is that he had to play lights out to make the team.  Mainly that's because he'd have to play on the top 2 lines in Pittsburgh, and would otherwise be miscast in a bottom 6 role.

While Sterling had a pretty decent camp all things considered, it just wasn't enough to keep him at this point.  He'll give a good offensive boost to the Baby Penguins, though, and might just find himself as a call-up for a few games at some point in the season when he a spark could be needed.

Of all the players listed above, Potter, Wagner, Conner, Sterling and Curry will need to clear waviers before officially being able to report to WBS.  That will be by noon tomorrow (Thursday).

With these cuts, the Penguins currently have 30 roster players (18 forwards, 10 defenseman, and 2 goaltenders), and need to get down to 23 by the season opener.

Among the bubble players still in the mix with a real shot to stick in Pittsburgh in just the few open roster spots include Ben Lovejoy, Deryk Engelland, Steve Hutchinson and Simon Despres on defense, and Mark Letestu,  Dustin Jeffrey, Eric Tangradi, and Ryan Craig up front.

The Penguins last two exhibition games are Friday night in Chicago in the second end of a back-to-back with the Blackhawks, and late Sunday afternoon in Detroit against the Red Wings.