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Pens demote Bennett, put Strait on waivers

Some cuts today in Penguins training camp. Via Bob McKenzie on twitter about players placed on waivers today:


Smith, Holzapfel, Peters, Reese, Grant, Phil Dupuis, Strait, Ferriero (PIT).

Also the team has announced that forwards Beau Bennett and Jayson Megna (who do not need to clear waivers) have been cut and sent back down to the minors.

The biggest surprise is Brian Strait. Strait played in the Penguins last few playoff games, after Paul Martin was injured and was seen as a guy likely to make the NHL roster. To expose him to waivers is a risk, but also today is a day when many players league wide have hit the wire and could be claimed, so it's as good a day as any to try and sneak him down.

Among the survivors, for now at least, is Simon Despres. If he's good enough to stay in the lineup, he'll probably stay in Pittsburgh. If not, and he's beat out by guys like Robert Bortuzzo and Ben Lovejoy, Despres (who is safe from waivers) will be sent back to the AHL.

Does this news mean that Lovejoy and Bortuzzo have made it? There's nothing offical yet, but the Pens are down to 23 players, so they could keep everyone know if they so chose to.

Cut down day can always have some surprises and seeing Bennett and Strait sent packing certainly qualifies. Now we'll wait to see if anyone wants to claim Strait.