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Rounding up today’s roster cuts

With teams paring down their rosters to prepare for the start of the regular season on Thursday, getting the last round of roster cuts can provide some fascinating results. Today was no different across the NHL and here’s your tour of links to show you some of what went down.

Toronto Ottawa Rookies Hockey

Toronto Maple Leafs Nazem Kadri skates in the warm-up before the first period of a NHL rookie tournament game against the Ottawa Senators in London, Ontario, Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Dave Chidley)

AP

Toronto sends down Kadri, Caputi, and Hanson

A lot of attention was paid to what the Leafs would do roster-wise and sending down Luca Caputi, Nazem Kadri, and Christian Hanson gives a guy like Tim Brent the chance to start in the NHL. With Matt Lashoff and Brett Lebda both on the injured list, the Leafs roster isn’t completely finished, but opting to start those three players in the AHL is certainly getting noticed. The fact is, none of those three proved they deserved a spot and until then, they can get better in the AHL. As it is, all three players are still incredibly young. They’ll get their time eventually.

Edmonton cuts eight players but no goalies... Yet

So you thought Jeff Deslauriers or Devan Dubnyk would be put on waivers. Turns out that didn’t happen today but they did send, among others, Liam Reddox, Alexandre Giroux and Linus Omark down to the AHL. Omark isn’t very pleased about being sent down, calling the demotion “political.” I believe this tactic of showing the team who’s boss comes from the book, “How To Not Impress Your Boss.”

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Chicago sends down Jeremy Morin

The young winger obtained from the Atlanta Thrashers in the off-season came very close to winning a spot out of training camp. He showed flashes of brilliance and a knack for the net, but it was not meant to be just yet for Morin. Viktor Stalberg will instead get the job in Chicago. With the Hawks worries on defense after Brian Campbell’s knee injury, they’ll be carrying extra help there including 19 year-old Nick Leddy.

Kings waive Erik Ersberg and Rich Clune

Clune isn’t the big deal here as Ersberg was Jon Quick’s backup last year. Now with prospect Jonathan Bernier signing a two-year extension and winning the backup job out of camp, Ersberg could be ticketed to go back to Manchester if he’s not snagged on waivers. Ersberg did all right in a backup job last year, but Bernier is clearly targeted to be the man of the future in Los Angeles. Ersberg could be useful to another team. One team that won’t be, apparently, is Nashville as Predators head coach Barry Trotz stated that the team has no interest in him.

Severin Blindenbacher, Matt Duchene

Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene (9) and Dallas Stars defensemen Severin Blindenbacher (4) chase the puck along the boards during the third period of a preseason NHL hockey game Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2010, in Denver. Colorado beat Dallas 2-1. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

AP

Dallas sends four players down, kill our dream of greatest name in NHL

The Stars sent down training camp hero Aaron Gagnon as well as Philip Larsen, Thomas Vincour and Swiss Olympic star Severin Blindenbacher. Blindenbacher had a solid camp for the Stars, but alas, our dream of seeing and hearing the name “Blindenbacher” in the NHL is on hold. We can only hope that when he does get the call in the NHL that Stars color commentator Daryl Reaugh can give us some fantastically colorful language in which to discuss his play. After all, he’s already given Philip Larsen the nickname of “Lego” for his Danish heritage. Can we get a nickname of “Toblerone” for Severin Blindenbacher here? Corporate synergy here, people. He’s Swiss, Toblerone is a legendary Swiss chocolate. Let’s make magic happen.

Vancouver’s Shane O’Brien and Darcy Hordichuk clear waivers

With a glut of defensemen and a ton of depth, the Canucks had to make room somehow and clearing out a pair of penalty-prone enforcer types made the job a bit easier for GM Mike Gillis and coach Alain Vigneault. You feel bad for the players, but for the team, to have the sort of depth where cutting these guys makes it OK is pretty fantastic.