The first wave of training camp cuts is rolling in, and Tuesday brought a full batch of moves across four teams as preseason trimmed down on day four.
Columbus got started with four names off the camp roster. Forward Max McCue, Roman Ahcan, and Tate Singleton were all sent to AHL Cleveland, while forward Owen Griffin was assigned to OHL Guelph.
Colorado made one move, sending forward Beckett Hamilton to WHL Red Deer.
Los Angeles had the busiest day by far. The Kings sent forwards Vojtěch Čihař, Kaleb Lawrence, and Grant Slukynsky, defenseman Henry Brzustewicz, and goaltenders Carter George and Hampton Slukynsky to AHL Ontario. They also released a long list of players from PTOs to AHL Ontario: forwards Jacob Doty, Brendan Gorman, Jack Hughes, Kenta Isogai, and Ryan O’Hara; defensemen Michael Mastrodomenico, Nate Corbet, Jack Millar, and Cameron Supryka; and goaltender Owen Flores.
The Kings also moved several players to junior teams. Forward Jan Chovan is headed to OHL Sudbury, forward Adam Goljer to OHL Kingston, forward Jimmy Lombardi to OHL Flint, defenseman Giorgos Pantelas to WHL Penticton, and forward Lucas Ambrosio to OHL Erie.
Vegas followed with a sizable list of cuts as well. Forwards Jordan Gustafson, Jett Jones, Riley McKay, Shane Smith, Sloan Stanick, and Trent Swick were assigned to AHL Henderson, along with defensemen Brandon Hickey, Lucas Johansen, Samuel Mayer, and Bronson Ride, plus goaltenders Pavel Moysevich and Alex Tracy.
The Golden Knights also moved forward Dylan Allie to QMJHL Gatineau, goaltender Matthew Minchak to OHL Kingston, defenseman Conor Walton to OHL Windsor, and Vann Williamson to OHL Kingston.
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Golden Knights Already Face A Familiar Camp Concern
The first wave of training camp injuries is already putting a familiar stress point back on the Golden Knights radar. Kai Uchacz has been labeled week-to-week after entering camp with a chance to push for consideration at the NHL level, while Raphael Lavoie is day-to-day after getting nicked up as Vegas sorts through its early roster business. For a team that has spent recent seasons managing wear and tear on key players, it is not the kind of start that helps settle anything down.
Mark Stone, Jack Eichel and William Karlsson have all dealt with injuries that shaped stretches of the clubs recent years, so the early concern around Uchacz and Lavoie lands with some context behind it. Uchacz had built real momentum with his AHL play and looked like a possible add to the Golden Knights lineup before this setback, which makes the timing especially frustrating. For now, the camp picture remains the same in one important way: Vegas is already dealing with the kind of health questions it would rather not have this early. [Read more 🡒]
Golden Knights Fans Finally Get Their First Real Piiparinen Test
Juho Piiparinen is about to get his first real look in a Golden Knights sweater, with the first-round pick from this years NHL Draft expected to make his preseason debut against the San Jose Sharks. The Finnish defenseman brings a reputation for moving the puck cleanly and handling the game at both ends, traits that helped him stand out with Tapparas U20 team and on Finlands junior international teams.
For Vegas, this is the kind of early test fans have been waiting for since draft night, a chance to see whether Piiparinens poise and instincts translate against NHL-level competition. Preseason games do not settle much on their own, but they do offer the first real glimpse of how a young defenseman might fit into the organizations long-term picture, and this one carries a little extra curiosity because of where he was selected and what he could become. [Read more 🡒]
