The Buffalo Sabres on Friday placed eight players on waivers, including defenseman Ryan Johnson, a first-round pick in 2019, for the purpose of assigning them to the Rochester Americans.
The Sabres also waived goalie Matt Villalta, defenseman Dennis Gilbert and forwards Mason Geertsen, Trevor Kuntar, Aidan McDonough, Carson Meyer and Jason Polin.
In addition, the Sabres also assigned the following players to the Amerks, their AHL affiliate: goalies Talyn Boyko and Scott Ratzlaff; defensemen Vsevolod Komarov, Noah Laaouan, Radim Mrtka, Gavin McCarthy and Max Strbak; forwards Thomas Bordeleau, Matteo Costantini, Riley Fiddler-Schultz, Zac Funk, Matthew Peca, Jake Richard, Redmond Savage, Graham Slaggert, Liam Valente and Brendan Warren.
The Sabres, who open the regular season Thursday on the road against the Columbus Blue Jackets, have 29 players left in training camp.
They must finalize their 23-man roster by 5 p.m. Monday.