Feb 6, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning goalie
Cedrick Desjardins(31) looks on during a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third period at Tampa Bay Times Forum. Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The Tampa Bay Lightning’s American Hockey League affiliate, Syracuse Crunch, have made a number of roster moves.
The Crunch, who didn’t make the playoffs after finishing with a 31-32-13 record for a total of 75 points, won’t resign nine players according to Syracuse.com.
The players who won’t be retained are as follows:
Goalies:
Defensemen:
Jordan Henry
Charles Landry
Forwards:
Drew Olson
Max Parent
Geoff Walker
Carl Nielsen
Jon DiSalvatore
Pierre-Cedric Labrie
“We’ve got new players coming in who we are excited to bring in,” Crunch general manager Julien BriseBois said. “We want to give them an opportunity to showcase themselves.”
Of the 9 #SYRCrunch players walking, none were #TBLightning draft picks. Landry was UFA signing out of junior when Farm D was shallow.
— Bolt Prospects (@BoltProspects) June 11, 2014
Desjardins and Labrie spent time with the Lightning this season. Desjardins played in one game, making 13 saves in only 18 minutes of action. He was credited with the loss that night against the Toronto Maple Leafs in February. Labrie skated in 13 games but was pointless. He had 20 penalty minutes and had a +/- of -4.
Furthermore, three players will be qualified a contract if they have not already been. They are forwards Brett Connolly and Philippe Paradis as well as defenseman Dmitry Korobov. Both Connolly and Korobov saw action with the Lightning in 2013-14.
Connolly bagged a goal in 11 games while Korobov had an assist in three games. There have been rumours of Korobov leaving North American and returning to the KHL, where he played the last four years before coming State side this season.
Finally, forwards Mike Angelidis and Evan Rankin, both unrestricted free agents, are still negotiating with the Crunch.