Kings trim roster by releasing three players from PTOs

A happy Saturday morning to you from Beijing, Insiders. While we were sleeping, the Los Angeles Kings trimmed their roster by three players, releasing Clayton Kirichenko (WHL-Medicine Hat), Evan Weinger (WHL-Portland) and Shane Walsh (ECHL-Cincinnati) from their professional tryouts.

The transaction reduces the number of players on the training camp roster to 63.

None of the three appeared to have an inside shot at locking down an entry-level contract with the club, though they did appear to pay close attention to Weinger, an El Segundo product known for impressive bursts of speed and some underrated toughness. Weinger has displayed this ability in the Western Hockey League, where he’ll face competition amidst a crowded 20-year-old field with a talented Portland Winterhawks team, and served up a nice saucer pass towards a net-crashing Drake Rymsha for an assist in a rookie game win over Vegas on September 12.

Junior-based players and those on PTOs who remain on the training camp roster are goalies Tomas Sholl (PTO), Mattthew Villalta, defensemen Chris Lee (PTO), Kale Clague, forwards Brandon Prust (PTO), Andrei Loktionov (PTO), Brooks Laich (PTO), Shane Harper (PTO), Gabe Vilardi (injured), Jaret-Anderson Dolan, Austin Wagner (injured/20-year-old), Matt Luff (20-year-old), Matt Marcinew (PTO) and Sam Kurker (PTO).

20-year-old players drafted out of or invited from major junior teams are eligible to either be returned to juniors or play professionally. Major junior-based players under 20 who’ve been invited to camp or have been drafted by the team are not eligible to play professionally.

Lead photo via Marissa Baecker/Getty Images

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