http://www.hersheypa.com/events/hershey_bears/detail.php?id=1773

Goaltender Frederic Cassivi, left wing Quintin Laing, right wing Eric Fehr, defensemen Lawrence Nycholat and Timo Helbling, center Dave Steckel and defenseman Jamie Hunt all were assigned Saturday morning.

That would appear to leave . . .

Goaltenders:

Kolzig
Johnson

Defensemen:

Pothier
Erskine
Heward
Morrisonn
Clymer
Eminger
Muir
Green
Schultz

Forwards:

Ovechkin
Zubrus
Bradley
Gordon
Sutherby
Clark
Pettinger
Zednik
Laich
Fata
Beech
Semin
Klepis
Giroux
Wiseman
Fleischmann
Vandermeer
Brashear

29 players for 23 slots, 27 skaters for 21 spots. Six cuts to make. Giroux, Wiseman, and Vandermeer would appear to be almost certain to go to Hershey, leaving three other cuts -- Schultz would appear to be ticketed on defense, which would leave eight on the blue line. If they carry eight, that would mean 13 forwards -- they would have to cut two more. I don't see how Fata makes this squad, so it comes down to Klepis or Fleischmann.

Or, there is a trade coming. Frankly, I think that's where it's going to end up.

Now . . . does all my math work?

___________
Play hard, shake hands, drink beer.

"LA needs two hockey teams like Switzerland needs two navies" -- Norman Chad (from "My 10-Point Plan to Save Gary Bettman from Himself")


If you've read this far, you probably could use a hobby

I'm not sure that Gordon makes the team. He can kill penalties, which is good, but other than that? There's very little offense to expect from him.

Zubrus, Beech, Sutherby, Laich, Klepis, that's 5 centers. We don't need a 6th one.

Ovechkin Zubrus Clark
Semin Beech/Klepis Zednik
Pettinger Sutherby Bradley
Fleischmann Laich Brashear

We could also have:

Ovechkin Zubrus Clark
Semin Beech Zednik
Pettinger Sutherby Bradley
Brashear Laich Klepis
(Fleischmann)

... with Klepis centering the 2nd line for a few shifts.

If Clymer doesn't stay on the blue line:

Ovechkin Zubrus Clark
Semin Beech Zednik
Clymer Sutherby Bradley
Pettinger Laich Brashear
(Klepis, Fleischmann)

Based on what I've seen so far, I don't think it a lock Beech makes the squad. He just doesn't seem to have taken that position -- second line center -- by the throat as I felt he might have to.

___________
Play hard, shake hands, drink beer.

"LA needs two hockey teams like Switzerland needs two navies" -- Norman Chad (from "My 10-Point Plan to Save Gary Bettman from Himself")


If you've read this far, you probably could use a hobby

Interesting thread on this very topic:

http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=292602

Wiseman and Vandermeer have been sent down, too.

At Monday's practice:

Ovechkin Klepis Zednik
Semin Zubrus Clark
Giroux Beech Pettinger

Klepis, who was not expected to start the season with the Caps, could end up on the top line! Hanlon likes his chemistry with Zednik, and he could decide to leave Zednik with Ovechkin, who needs someone to finish his passes. Zubrus and Clark had career highs in goals last season, but they're still respectively 8 and 11 goals behind Zednik's career high (31). Also, Semin isn't a physical player, as far as I know, and could benefit from Zubrus's presence at his side.

Hanlon paired Beech and Pettinger for the first two games (Fleischmann was the third man in both games). In game 3, Zednik replaced Pettinger (who didn't play). Giroux is not expected to stay with the big team, so I guess Fleischmann-Beech-Pettinger could be our 4th-line.

Who's left? Sutherby and Bradley should play together, and Brashear could end up with them. Hanlon didn't really try to build a third line in the last three games. Probably because he already has a very good idea of what it will be: Brashear-Sutherby-Bradley, or Clymer-Sutherby-Bradley if Clymer doesn't stay in defense.

Ovechkin Klepis Zednik
Semin Zubrus Clark
Brashear Sutherby Bradley
Fleischmann Beech Pettinger
(Laich/Gordon/Fata)

Based on what I've seen so far, I don't think it a lock Beech makes the squad.

Article in this morning's Post promoting Klepis for the spot rather than Beech.

Interesting.

I must admit, I got to practice on the 17th (AO's birthday) and was most impressed by McNeill, second was close between Sutherby (had a real tough day) and Beech. Don't know wht the guy doesn't show up for games, but he doesn't. If he does make the squad, looks like it's 4th line; if not, he hits the Hershey highway.

Fleischmann and Schultz got sent down. 25 players left:

Goaltenders (2)

Kolzig
Johnson

Defensemen (8)

Pothier
Erskine
Heward
Morrisonn
Clymer
Eminger
Muir
Green

Forwards (15)

Ovechkin
Zubrus
Bradley
Gordon
Sutherby
Clark
Pettinger
Zednik
Laich
Fata
Beech
Semin
Klepis
Giroux
Brashear

Possible lineup:

Ovechkin Zubrus Clark
Semin Klepis Zednik
Pettinger Sutherby Bradley
Brashear Laich Gordon
(Fata on the bench, Beech and Giroux in Hershey)

Morrisonn Pothier
Eminger Clymer
Heward Green
(Erskine, Muir)

Kolzig
(Johnson)

Washington Post article.