Canucks announce third round of preseason roster cuts
And then there was just 29 players for the Vancouver Canucks.
On Tuesday afternoon, the team once again took to Twitter, announcing that they had reduced their preseason roster for the third time this preseason, and for the second time in two days.
Five players were placed on waivers for the purpose of reassignment to the AHL, including forward John Stevens, defencemen Noah Juulsen, Brady Keeper and Guillaume Brisebois, and netminder Colin Delia.
Delia, who was signed this offseason after spending five years with the Chicago Blackhawks, will join fellow netminders Arturs Silovs and Michael DiPietro in Abbotsford, both of whom were assigned to Abbotsford on Tuesday.
Silovs and DiPietro were impressive during their preseason action, coming to the rescue for their fellow teammates on numerous occasions, but will now have to battle it out for the starting netminder position in Abbotsford.
DiPietro, who recently inked a one-year, $840,000 extension back in July, finished last season with a record of 15-13-5 to go along with his 2.95 GAA and .901 SV%.
Silovs’ numbers weren’t as impressive with Abbotsford compared to DiPietro, going 3-6-0 with a 3.10 GAA and .888 SV%, but the Latvian netminder bounced back after being loaned to the Trois-Rivières Lions of the ECHL, posting six wins, one shutout, a .920 SV% and a 2.37 GAA in ten contests.
Silovs also represented his country at the World Hockey Championship back in May.
In addition to Silovs and DiPietro, the Canucks also assigned forwards Arshdeep Bains, Danila Klimovich and William Lockwood, as well as blueliner Wyatt Kalynuk, back down to Abbotsford, while Tristan Nielsen and Danny DeKeyser were released from their professional tryout contracts.
Nielsen will return to the AHL for the second straight year, looking to build on his seven goals, four assists and 17 PIMs in 41 games while DeKeyser, who spent the past 10 seasons with Detroit, will be looking for another NHL club.
DeKeyser suited up for all three preseason contests, averaging just over 16 minutes of ice time, but was edged out by younger players like Jack Rathbone and Christian Wolanin, both of whom have excelled in training camp so far.
The Canucks will suit up for two more home exhibition games this week, facing off against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday before wrapping up on Friday against the Arizona Coyotes.
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