Coyotes further reduce training camp roster, few bubble players remain

The Arizona Coyotes made another round of training camp cuts on Friday, giving a clearer picture of what the opening night roster will look like on Thursday’s opening night at the Anaheim Ducks.

It started with a report from The Athletic’s Craig Morgan that forwards Michael Bunting, Michael Chaput and Hudson Fasching along with defenseman Aaron Ness were put on waivers. If and when they clear waivers, they’ll be eligible to be assigned to the team’s AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners, who are currently in the midst of a training camp of their own.

The Coyotes also announced that defensemen Kyle Capobianco and Jordan Gross and forward Lane Pederson were all sent to Tucson.

The removal of these seven players from the roster, along with the team calling up goaltender Ivan Prosvetov on Thursday, would put the team’s preseason roster at 25 players. Teams are allowed to carry 23 in the regular season, which is less than a week away.

One could surmise from the remaining players on the roster who will make the team, for the most part. Remaining players that were not NHL regulars last year only include goaltenders Adin Hill and Prosvetov, first-round pick defenseman Victor Soderstrom and last year’s first-round pick Barrett Hayton, the last of whom seems likely to make the roster.

Assuming Hill and Prosvetov go back to the AHL and Soderstrom is assigned to one of either Tucson or Sweden, the Coyotes would be at only 22 players of their allotted 23 to start the season. Arizona did that at times last year, and leaving an open spot would give it some flexibility as to who it wants to call up for backup at given points throughout the year.

The Coyotes have one remaining preseason game on Saturday at Anaheim.

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