Avalanche trim seven more players from their preseason roster

The Colorado Avalanche continued to pare down their preseason roster on Thursday, reassigning seven players.

Center J.C. Beaudin and defenseman Nicolas Meloche have been sent back to their respective teams in the QMJHL (Rouyn-Noranda and Gatineau).  With those two moves, there are no remaining players on the roster that are required to be sent back to Canadian Junior clubs, should they not make the Avalanche.

Goaltenders Nathan Lieuwen and Kent Simpson, as well as forward Shawn St-Amant were reassigned to the San Antonio Rampage.  The trio are all signed to AHL contracts, leaving Cole Sanford as the only person remaining with the Avs on such a deal.

Defenseman Mason Geertsen and forward Reid Petryk were also sent to San Antonio, where they will rehab their hand and foot injuries, respectively.

With the transactions, the Avalanche roster currently stands at 44 players.  Of the 44, only Matt Duchene is not with the team, as he continues to represent Canada in the World Cup of Hockey, where they are lead Team Europe by one game in the best-of-three final.