The Carolina Hurricanes have made their second round of cuts – one that results in the first round of assignments to Charlotte.
The Checkers’ NHL affiliate assigned nine players – forwards Kyle Hagel, Ben Holmstrom, Greg Nemisz, Justin Shugg and Jared Staal, defensemen Trevor Carrick, Dennis Robertson and Keegan Lowe, and goaltender Daniel Altshuller – to Charlotte on Saturday morning. Due to their age and professional experience, Holmstrom, Nemisz, Shugg and Staal must first clear waivers to make the assignment official – something that would happen at noon on Sunday unless they are claimed by another NHL club. Update: all four players cleared waivers.
If all players clear waivers, the Checkers are expected to begin their training camp on the morning of Sept. 29 with 15 players – Saturday’s arrivals from Carolina and a group of others including Hurricanes defensive prospects Austin Levi and Beau Schmitz, who did not attend NHL camp, AHL signees Alex Aleardi and John Muse, and a pair of invites in forwards Kevin Lynch and Mitch Wahl, who are signed with the club’s ECHL affiliate in Florida. A current roster can be found here.
The Hurricanes retain 36 players in camp, including AHL signee Chad LaRose, who had not officially been on the roster until signing a professional tryout on Saturday. Sixteen former Checkers remain in Raleigh, as do 17 players on two-way contracts who are eligible to star this season in Charlotte.
The Checkers’ full training camp schedule, which includes a pair of exhibition games against the Norfolk Admirals starting Friday, can be found here.
