The Sabres are now confirming today's TSN report that Ales Kotalik and Shaone Morrisonn have both cleared waivers, and the pair has been assigned to Rochester so Buffalo is officially now under the salary cap. Kotalik and Morrisonn are due $5,075,000 this season, leaving the Sabres roughly $930,000 under the cap (it's 1.4 million minus about $425,000 in owed bonuses).
The Amerks opened practice today before the Sabres assigned 14 players plus Kotalik and Morrisonn to Rochester. Kevin Oklobzija of the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle has the full list of players on the ice today in Rochester. The Sabres were off. Goaltender David Leggio has yet to be assigned to Rochester officially but will be soon as he cleared waivers today as well.
There was plenty of confusion who was in and was out with Rochester earlier today based on who was skating. The Sabres didn't announce their latest cuts until this afternoon so many of those players weren't on hand.
Assigned to Rochester today were forwards Marcus Foligno, Zack Kassian, Jonathan Parker, Michael Ryan, Colin Stuart, Corey Tropp, Phil Varone and Derek Whitmore; defensemen TJ Brennan, Joe Finley, Brayden McNabb, Dennis Persson and Drew Schiestel; and goaltender Drew MacIntyre.
The Sabres said MacIntyre, Persson, Ryan and Stuart have each been assigned pending waivers. MacIntyre is expected to report to Rochester, then return to Buffalo to serve as the Sabres' third goalie on the European trip.
Buffalo still has 25 players in camp (15 forwards, seven defensemen and three goaltenders). The current alphabetical lists:
Forwards: Luke Adam, Brad Boyes, Matt Ellis, Tyler Ennis, Paul Gaustad, Nathan Gerbe, Jochen Hecht, Patrick Kaleta, Villo Leino, Cody McCormick, Jason Pominville, Derek Roy, Paul Szczechura (a veteran free-agent signee who has been injured and not practicing), Drew Stafford, Thomas Vanek.
Defense: Christian Ehrhoff, Marc-Andre Gragnani, Jordan Leopold, Tyler Myers, Robyn Regehr, Andrej Sekera, Mike Weber.
Goal: Jhonas Enroth, David Leggio, Ryan Miller.
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
