Chirps from Center Ice

It’s probably a false headline because all of the roster cuts Pittsburgh made from its roster Monday were all players who they returned to their junior clubs. They were, Jan Drozg (Shawinigan Cataractes), Zachary Lauzon (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies), Connor Hall (Kitchener Rangers) and Alex D’Orio (Saint John Sea Dogs).

One junior player remains, and will actually play Tuesday night in Pittsburgh’s preseason game against Buffalo. His name is Jordy Bellerive, fresh off signing a three year entry level contract on Saturday.

Here’s the lineup Pittsburgh is putting out for Tuersday’s affair against Buffalo, in case you are wondering.

Other stuff…

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Hershey signed five guys to PTOs. I thought at the time that they loaded up like Hershey always does but one name out of that quintet jumps out at me the most, the others are likely depth guys or heading to the Bears ECHL affiliate in South Carolina.

Matt Carey in case you were wondering, is the player that jumped out at me the most. He was good on a bad Hartford team last year. Put him on an offensive juggernaut like 11-time, watch out.

Mike O’Brien checked in from Pittsburgh, his thoughts here.

More later, probably this week.

Coal Street continued its summer of blockbuster signings with the announcement Wednesday afternoon that they have signed forward Christian Thomas formerly of the Hershey Bears.

Big time signing here. Thomas co-led the Bears in goals with 24 last season, 12 coming on the power play which was fifth overall in the AHL in that department.

For a team like the Penguins in desperate need it seems every year of a power play punch, the Thomas signing shores up that doubt for a team which is improved in defense and forward. Mind you, the Pens won the regular season overall, so it is shaping up like the Penguins may be as good or better than last season, if that is even conceivable.

It’s an AHL contract for Thomas in case you were wondering. It may be a bit of a surprise to some that Thomas went to the middle of September to be signed by a team. He most likely was looking for full time NHL work but with camps opening this week took the next best option in signing with a good AHL team in Wilkes-Barre.

Tyler has more, including the headline I was going to use.

Elsewhere, the Penguins won the Prospects Tournament this weekend and goaltender Alex D’Orio impressed enough people that he signed with Pittsburgh today to a three year entry level contract. D’Orio is an undrafted player who will return to juniors this season.

Pittsburgh opens camp Friday. They didn’t announce a roster when they made the news public Tuesday, so expect that to come Thursday.

We are getting there.

Oh, hello there!

Word of my demise here on the blog has been greatly exaggerated. No, I haven’t given it up. Yes, there hasn’t been anything of substance to blog about. J-S Dea finally signed his qualifying offer and Sahir Gill signed with the Rochester Americans as Jason Botterill continues to poach last years players from Coal Street.

There, you are caught up since the months time or so since I have been in the Chirps from Center Ice living room.

Some other notable things to blog about include the Penguins Rookie Tournament which gets going this weekend in Buffalo. Coal Street put out a nice press release about who is all going here complete with a roster and going next level by sharing the tournament guide complete with in depth player bios.

Notable names like Lukas Bengtsson, Ethan Prow, Jeff Taylor and Dylan Zink lead the blueliners. Forwards Zach Aston-Reese, Teddy Blueger, Thomas DiPauli, Reid Gardiner and Daniel Sprong lead the punch up front.

Pittsburgh will carry the games online through their website if you are itching to watch some hockey four weeks before the start of the regular season.

I’m going to get cracking soon on the AHL Previews and will share a date on when they will roll out in the coming weeks. We are not too far away from the first preseason games. Business is going to pick up again here shortly.