Wild trims eight from roster

The Minnesota Wild made some moves on Thursday (Sept. 24) which cut eight members from its training camp roster.

Six players were re-assigned to the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League, one was returned to junior and one was released from an amateur tryout contract.

Moving on to Des Moines are:

Raphael Bussieres – A 21-year-old, 6’2,” 203 lbs. winger from Longueuil, PQ, Bussieres was selected by the Wild in the Second Round (46th Overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Bussieres appeared in just 28 games last season, splitting time between the Iowa Wild and the Alaska Aces of the ECHL. As a professional rookie in 2013-14, Bussieres collected 19 points (5g, 14a) and 51 penalty minutes with the Iowa Wild.

Tanner Eberle – A 21-year-old, 5’11,” 174 lbs. forward from Regina, SK, Eberle will be a professional rookie this season although he did get a brief taste of the pro level at the end of last season playing a half dozen games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL and another five with the Allen Americans of the ECHL. He wrapped up his fourth and final season of junior in the WHL and second season at Assistant Captain, collecting 56 points (33g, 23a) and 99 penalty minutes with the Moose Jaw Warriors.

Guillaume Gelinas – A 22-year-old, 5’10,” 203 lbs. defenseman from Quebec City, Gelinas played his rookie season at Iowa last year, picking up four points (2g, 2a) and 22 penalty minutes in 37 games.

Alex Gudbranson – A 22-year-old, 6’2,” 234 lbs. defender from Orleans, ON, Gudbranson emerged from the OHL and played his rookie season of pro last year with the Iowa Stars, collecting four points (1g, 3a) and 17 penalty minutes in 46 games.

Brody Hoffman – A 24-year-old, 6’4,” 209 lbs. goaltender from Wilkie, SK, Hoffman played some junior in Alberta and Saskatchewan before moving on to play three years of college hockey at the University of Vermont and he will be making his pro debut at Des Moines this season.

Stephen Michalek – A 22-year-old, 6’3,” 205 lbs. netminder from Hartford, CT, Michalek was selected by the Wild in the Sixth Round (161st Overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Last year Michalek wrapped up his college career, playing 37 games with Harvard where he kept up a 2.28 goals against averge and a .924 Save Percentage. He will also be making his pro debut with Iowa.

The Wild also assigned Pavel Jenys, a 19-year-old 6’3,”203 lbs. forward from Brno, Czech Republic to return to the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey league.

Selected by the Wild in the Seventh Round (199th Overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Jenys last season put up 45 points (15g, 30a) and 45 penalty minutes in 63 games at Subury and he also got a taste of pro play, with eight games in Iowa at the end of the season where he collected three assists.

Jenys could be a part of the Czech Republic team at the World Junior Championships at Helsinki in December.

Finally, the Wild released Sam Warning from his amateur tryout contract. Warning, a 23-year-old, 5’10,” 181 lbs. winger from Chesterfield, MO finishing his fourth and final season at the University of Minnesota this past spring, collecting 24 points (12g, 12a) and 30 penalty minutes in 39 games.

With these moves, the Wild roster now stands at 44 players — 25 forwards, 13 defenseman and five goaltenders.