Penguins Cut 11

Hope you didn't spend too much on that authentic Brett Sterling jersey...

Sterling was one of 11 players cut by the Penguins today, joining forwards Chris Conner, Nick Johnson, Joe Vitale and Tim Wallace, defensemen Robert Bortuzzo, Corey Potter, Brian Strait and Steve Wagner; and goaltenders John Curry and Brad Thiessen. All of those players were assigned to Wilkes/Barre-Scranton, and Conner, Curry, Potter, Sterling, Wagner and Wallace must clear waivers by Thursday.

The Penguins now have 30 players remaining in camp, with two preseason games remaining: at Chicago on Friday and at Detroit on Sunday. More cuts are coming, as Dan Bylsma said that he wants to take 25-27 players into the weekend. The roster must number no more than 23 by the opener on October 7. Currently, the roster includes 18 forwards, 10 defensemen and two goalies, including three injured players - forwards Jordan Staal and Casey Pierro-Zabotel and D Alex Grant. Staal is the only one of those three who will stick around for 2010-11.

As for the remaining battles left in camp, the Trib's Rob Rossi ranks the battle for the sixth defenseman spot in the order of Deryk Engelland 1st, Ben Lovejoy 2nd, and Andrew Hutchinson 3rd. Rossi also did not rule out the possibility of the team exploring a post-camp acquisition at the position and/or using young Simon Despres for the first few weeks of October.

After last night's win over Chicago, the team is off today for their annual in-house media day at Southpointe, taking yearbook and calendar photos, filming video head shots, and record video and radio voiceovers for FSN and 105.9 The X. 

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