The Penguins make their first rounds of training camp cuts

Having played two preseason games, the Penguins have started to cut down their training camp roster.

Forwards Fredrik Tiffels and Troy Josephs, defensemen Dane Birks and Joe Masonius and goaltender Anthony Peters have all been assigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League.

Six players have been returned to their various junior teams. Heading back to their teams in the Western Hockey League are forward Jordy Bellerive and defenseman Calen Addison (Lethbridge) and forward Justin Almeida (Moose Jaw). Goaltender Alex D’Orio (Saint John) and forward Jan Drozg (Shawinigan) are going back to teams in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Defenseman Antti Palojarvi is returning to Lukko of Finland’s SM-Liiga.

I don’t see anything too surprising here. With the Penguins roster jam that is going to exist with NHL players on contracts, there isn’t going to be much room for a surprise to break through, save for maybe one or two guys.

Wilkes-Barre’s AHL training camp starts on Monday, and Pittsburgh has two preseason games back-to-back this Saturday and Sunday. It wouldn’t be too shocking to see the next round of cuts come once the NHL team gets through the weekend and to help stock up the AHL camp as it gets off the ground.