Winnipeg trimmed its training camp roster down to 33 players on Tuesday, and two names sent packing stood out from the rest:
Jack Roslovic and Logan Stanley.
Roslovic, the 25th overall pick in 2015, is on his way to AHL Manitoba while Stanley, the 18th overall pick this year, has been returned to his junior club in OHL Windsor.
Neither comes as a massive surprise.
Stanley was always headed back to junior -- at 6-foot-7 and 228 pounds, he was drafted largely as a project, one that needs more seasoning before being ready to compete for a spot at the NHL level.
“He is a guy that is going to continue to grow, grow into his body, grow into his frame, grow into his game,” Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff told NHL.com. “There’s lot of room for development, and that’s what makes him a really exciting prospect.”
Roslovic’s departure is a tad more intriguing.
The 19-year-old left Miami (OH) University shortly after his freshman year to sign an entry-level deal and turn pro. At the time, he said his goal was “to play as high as I possibly can this season” -- not that kind of high, you stoners -- but tapped the brakes when it came to predicting a spot with the Jets.
“Am I ready for the NHL? Maybe not,” Roslovic said, per the Columbus Dispatch. “We’ll see. I’m a lot stronger than I was. But the only way to see if you’re ready is training camp.”
Roslovic played in last night’s 4-2 exhibition win over Ottawa, getting just 9:39 of ice time. In that same game, the guy Winnipeg took eight spots ahead of Roslovic -- touted prospect Kyle Connor -- scored the game-winning goal, his third of the preseason.