Kings’ Cuts Reduce Roster to 36 Players

The Kings trimmed their roster to 36 players Saturday, assigning eight players to their minor league affiliate in Phoenix.

Players sent to Phoenix are forwards Nick Vachon, Michael Boback, Dan Bylsma and Stephane Soulliere; defensemen Justin Hocking and Ruslan Batyrshin, and goaltenders John Blue and Sergei Naumov. Blue and Naumov are with the King organization on a tryout basis.

Four goaltenders remain in camp: Kelly Hrudey, Byron Dafoe, Jamie Storr and Frederick Beaubien.

Additionally, the Kings returned seven players to their junior teams--forwards Jason Morgan, Andrew Dale, Pavel Rosa and Donald MacLean, and defensemen Brian Stewart, Jan Nemecek and Benoit LaRose.

The Kings play their first exhibition game Tuesday at the Forum against the Boston Bruins.