"I think Anthony needs to go down and play," coach and general manager Jacques Martin said. "I don't think he's ready to play in the National Hockey League. It's unfortunate he missed three quarters of a season last year. He has some excellent skills and excellent talent. But he has to learn about the pro game."

Other cuts included former Michigan State standout David Booth; defensemen Alexei Semenov and Ari Vallen; and center Janis Sprukts. All five are expected to start the season with the Americans. Florida is required to send a minimum of nine players to Rochester, although that number could be more if the Americans request it.

Roster nearly set for opener
also
ROSTER MOVES
and
Panthers open up offense
and of course the actual Panthers Press Release

"There's three goalies for one spot," Pelletier said after practice. "Craig Anderson and myself can't get sent down to the East Coast (ECHL), so something has to give."

Ideally, the Panthers will loan Pelletier — or possibly Anderson — to another AHL team. That way the No. 3 and 4 goalies in the organization can play at the highest level outside of the NHL while Shantz learns the pro game with the ECHL's Florida Everblades.

No loan has been arranged, however. Most NHL teams believe they have adequate goaltending depth and want their young prospects playing in the AHL.

Pelletier's stay could stop short

Yesterday's big Blades headlines:

The Blades — who have 10 players signed for the 2006-07 regular season which will kick off in three weeks — are expecting to receive many players from their NHL affiliates, the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes, and didn't have enough space for Aucoin on their roster.

"We do not have enough room for him unfortunately," Blades general manager Craig Brush said. "We're getting guys from the (American Hockey League) and we already signed too many players.

Aucoin no longer with Everblades

"Phil signed his qualifying offer at a time when we weren’t quite certain about how many players we were going to receive from our affiliates (Carolina and the Florida Panthers), and unfortunately for Phil, it looks like we’re going to get more than we originally had anticipated," Fleming said by phone while on his way to Albany, N.Y., to watch some of Carolina’s prospects at the Albany River Rats’ American Hockey League camp.

"So we just didn’t have the room to play him and Phil’s the type of player that has to play. We released him to give him the opportunity to go to Memphis, a team that he’s familiar with."

Aucoin joins CHL team after being released by Everblades

It looks like the duel affiliation is going to work out worse than ever for the Everblades in terms of call ups during the season. Albany is carrying 36 guys already and are expecting 11 more to join their camp this weekend.