Some (un)expected roster alignments in Manchester

(photo courtesy of www.hartfordwolfpack.com)

Some of the changes clearly result from shuffles in Los Angeles and Reading and Bakersfield (ECHL). Let's see them one by one:

(1) Greg Hogeboom being sent down to Reading Royals - how about a major surprise for starters? I agree Greg did not exactly have a heck of a pre-season, but on the other hand, he was one of the last Mohicans that could actually play the center position for the Monarchs! Especially in the light of the most recent injury bug, strained stomach muscles of Matt Ryan (nominal second line center) that will require surgery and keep him out indefinitely...

(2) Ryan Munce (projected into a backup role in Manchester). The thing is, with Jason LaBarbera clearing waivers and going back to the AHL, Munce did not figure to be in the long-term plans for the Monarchs this season anyway. However, even before LaBamba was sent down, Munce was still beaten to the job by Yutaka Fukufuji. Is that the psychological hot-headedness of Munce that bars his progress? I wonder.

(3) Monarchs officially carrying only six regular defensemen on the opening day roster: Buckley, Harrold, Mormina, Werner, Schmidt and newly acquired Doug Nolan. Richard Petiot will very soon undergo the knee operation and cannot be counted on to play any time soon. Will the Monarchs call up someone from Reading or Bakersfield? Is there an AHL-caliber trade in the works? I cannot envisage them NOT to cater for any injury in the defensive corps...

(4) What is the place in the lineup of Jeff Giuliano? With the departure of Anze Kopitar and injury to Ryan, can he effectively center Konstantin Pushkarev and Lauri Tukonen?

The season opener is this Saturday against Worcester Sharks at home and then the Monarchs have a full week off until they meet Providence Bruins and Portland Pirates on back to back games next weekend in Verizon Wireless Arena. They are bound to get the roster situation cleared by then.