The Hurricanes trimmed their roster Tuesday afternoon, assigning forwards Jacob Pritchard and Spencer Smallman and defensemen Fredrik Claesson and Alex Lintuniemi to Charlotte. Additionally, the have released forward Hunter Shinkaruk and defensemen Cavan Fitzgerald and Derek Sheppard from their tryouts, with all three AHL-contracted skaters joining the Checkers.

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Pritchard is heading into his first pro season after finishing up his college career at UMass last season and joining the Checkers for their Calder Cup run. The undrafted forward, who signed a one-year, entry-level contract with Carolina in April, logged six postseason games with Charlotte and scored one goal along the way.

Smallman is going into his third pro season, though injuries held him to just 14 regular season games as a rookie with ECHL Florida in 2017-18 and 12 AHL games with Charlotte last season.

Claesson inked a one-year, two-way contract with Carolina last week after being invited to NHL training camp. A fifth-round pick in 2011, the 26-year-old defenseman has 285 AHL games and 70 points (13g, 57a) to his name through seven pro seasons, as well as 150 NHL games with the Senators and Rangers.

The 23-year-old Lintuniemi signed a one-year, two-way deal with Carolina in July after spending four seasons in the Los Angeles system. A second-round pick in 2014, the Finnish defenseman has put up 60 points (8g, 52a) in 176 AHL games, as well as 18 points (1g, 17a) in 38 ECHL games during his rookie season.

Shinkaruk signed an AHL contract with Charlotte over the summer. A first-round pick by Vancouver in 2013, Shinkaruk has 159 points (80g, 79a) in 305 AHL games over his career with Utica, Stockton and Laval, as well as 15 NHL games with the Canucks and Flames.

Sheppard returns to Charlotte after signing an AHL deal midway through last season, recording an assist and 24 penalty minutes in 10 regular season games and two points (1g, 1a) and 35 penalty minutes in six postseason games with the Checkers. He spent the majority of his first pro year in the ECHL with the Florida Everblades and earned spots on both the ECHL All-Rookie Team and the Second All-Star Team with 40 points (14g, 26a) in 57 games.

Fitzgerald is heading into his third pro season after spending the first two in the San Jose system. The 22-year-old ranked second among Barracuda defensemen in goals and fourth in points last season and has totaled 33 points (11g, 22a) in 112 career AHL games.

The Checkers’ training camp roster now stands at 22, made up of six players on NHL contracts with Carolina, six players on AHL contracts with Charlotte and 10 tryouts.