PACK PLAYERS PACKING 

At this time of year in hockey land, people are moving around all over the place. Such is the case with the New York Rangers franchise.

Former first round draft pick Bobby Sanguinetti is the last cut in the defense to start the 2009-2010 season. Today, Sanguinetti was sent back to Hartford and according to reports throughout the Rangers blog-o-sphere Head Coach John Tortorella wants the New Jersey native to be more involved offensively.

Here’s the official release:

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has assigned defenseman Bobby Sanguinetti to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL). The Rangers now have 23 players remaining in training camp, including two goaltenders, seven defensemen and 14 forwards. The Blueshirts’ return to action tonight when they will host the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden (7:00 pm), in the final home game of their 2009-10 pre-season schedule.

PLAYERS ASSIGNED TO HARTFORD (AHL) ON 9/24/09:

Defense: Bobby Sanguinetti

PLAYERS STILL IN NEW YORK RANGERS TRAINING CAMP:

Goal: Henrik Lundqvist, Steve Valiquette

Defense: Michael Del Zotto, Matt Gilroy, Dan Girardi, Wade Redden, Michal Rozsival, Alexei Semenov, Marc Staal

Forwards: Artem Anisimov, Sean Avery, Brian Boyle, Donald Brashear, Ryan Callahan, Chris Drury, Brandon Dubinsky, Marian Gaborik, Evgeny Grachev, Christopher Higgins, Ales Kotalik, Enver Lisin, Vinny Prospal, Aaron Voros

But Sanguinetti isn’t the only player in Ranger-land making travel arrangements.

After Wednesday night’s 4-1 victory over Worcester, the first round of Wolf Pack cuts have been made.

Here’s the official release:

Hartford Wolf Pack general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the team has deleted 11 players from its training camp roster.

Forward Ryan Garlock has been loaned to the Wolf Pack’s ECHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, and forward Chris Chappell has been reassigned by the parent New York Rangers from the Wolf Pack to Charlotte. Forwards Tyler Doig, Matt Schepke and Andrew Carroll, along with defenseman Steve Ward, have been released and will be joining the Checkers. Also released were forwards Daniel Bartek and Matt Maccarone, and defenseman Sasha Pokulok. Defenseman Sam Klassen has been reassigned by the Rangers to his Junior team, the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League, and fellow defenseman David Stich has been released and will be returning to Major Junior hockey.

Thirty-four players remain on the Wolf Pack’s camp roster, heading into their next preseason game, which is tomorrow night, Friday, September 25th at Champions Skating Center in Cromwell, CT. The Pack battle the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Friday, with faceoff at 7:00 PM. That game benefits Connecticut Clippers Youth Hockey, and admission is $5.

The Wolf Pack and Sound Tigers play a rematch this Saturday night, September 26th at The Rinks at Shelton in Shelton, CT (7:00), and the Pack wraps up its preseason slate this Sunday, September 27th at the International Skating Center of Connecticut in Simsbury at 3:00 PM, hosting Worcester.

Loaned by Wolf Pack to Charlotte (ECHL):

Forwards (1): Ryan Garlock

Reassigned by NY Rangers from Wolf Pack to Charlotte (ECHL):

Forwards (1): Chris Chappell

Released by Wolf Pack and Joining Charlotte (ECHL):

Defensemen (1): Steve Ward

Forwards (3): Tyler Doig, Andrew Carroll, Matt Schepke

Reassigned by NY Rangers to Saskatoon (WHL):

Defensemen (1): Sam Klassen

Released by Wolf Pack and returning to Junior Hockey:

Defensemen (1): David Stich

Released by Wolf Pack:

Forwards (2): Daniel Bartek, Matt Maccarone

Defensemen (1): Sasha Pokulok

Following is the roster of players who remain on the Wolf Pack’s training camp roster:

Goal (4): Chad Johnson, Ryan Munce, Miika Wiikman, Matt Zaba

Defense (13): Mike Berube, Tysen Dowzak, Trevor Glass, Ilkka Heikkinen, Brent Henley, Tomas Kundratek, Luke Lucyk, Jared Nightingale, Corey Potter, Bobby Sanguinetti, Michael Sauer, David Urquhart, Nigel Williams

Forwards (17) Andres Ambühl, Tyler Arnason, Dane Byers, Jean-Philip Chabot, Derek Couture, Paul Crowder, Devin DiDiomete, Brodie Dupont, Ryan Hillier, Dan LaCouture, Corey Locke, Jordan Owens, P.A. Parenteau, Patrick Rissmiller, Justin Soryal, Dale Weise, Tomas Zaborsky

The Wolf Pack’s 2009-10 regular-season home schedule kicks off Saturday, October 10 at the XL Center against the Springfield Falcons (7:00). Once again this season, tickets to the home opener are only $10 each.

The Wolf Pack is offering “Knockout Season Ticket Prices” for 2009-10, with across-the-board price reductions of 8-13% depending on the seat location, as well as terrific discounts for groups of 15 or more. For more information, visit www.hartfordwolfpack.com, or call the Wolf Pack ticket office at (860) 548-2000 to talk with an account executive today about all of the Wolf Pack’s many ticket options.

Single-game tickets for 2009-10 Hartford Wolf Pack regular season home games are on sale now at the XL Center box office, through Ticketmaster Charge-by-Phone at 1-800-745-3000 and on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com.