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Sterling among Penguins' cuts
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Penguins forward Brett Sterling had a goal and an assist in three preseason games.
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Perhaps the biggest surprise among the Penguins' 11 roster cuts Wednesday was winger Brett Sterling.
Sterling, a free-agent signing over the summer, was productive in what has been a highly competitive training camp. He scored in scrimmages, had a goal and an assist in three preseason games and got some looks on the team's top two lines.
He, fellow forwards Tim Wallace and Chris Conner, defensemen Corey Potter and Steve Wagner and goaltender John Curry will have to clear waivers. If they are not claimed by another NHL team by noon today, they will report to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.
The others assigned to Wilkes-Barre were forwards Nick Johnson and Joe Vitale, defensemen Robert Bortuzzo and Brian Strait, and goaltender Brad Thiessen.
Among the defensemen cut, Potter earned the most acclaim from the Penguins' staff.
The cuts leave the Penguins with 27 healthy players, including 18 forwards, 10 defensemen and no extra goalies. Center Jordan Staal, recovering from a foot infection, will miss the start of the regular season and is not counted among the 27..
Those who survived the cuts and are considered to be on the bubble include forwards Ryan Craig, Dustin Jeffrey, Mark Letestu and Eric Tangradi, and defensemen Deryk Engelland, Andrew Hutchinson, Ben Lovejoy and Simon Despres. Despres, though, could remain with the Penguins for nine regular-season games before his NHL contract would be activated.
First Published September 30, 2010 12:00 am
