With the ECHL's deadline for season-opening rosters looming Wednesday, the defending Kelly Cup champion Alaska Aces have made multiple moves in the last two days.
And they expect to make more.
The Aces, who open the season Friday night against the Ontario Reign at Sullivan Arena, have released forwards Shane Heffernan and Ridge Garbutt and defenseman Cam Harvey.
On the flip side, the club on Tuesday received forward Jason Gregoire, a former college sniper at North Dakota, and defenseman Colton Jobke from the Iowa Wild, one of their American Hockey League affiliates. Gregoire has two seasons of AHL experience and played last season in Sweden.
They also addressed their lack of depth on the blue line by signing defensemen Dustin Molle and Brad Gorham to tryout agreements. Molle played for the Aces the previous two seasons and Gorham, an engineer who played at UAA, has helped them out occasionally when they were short on defensemen the last two seasons.
The Aces still are owed compensation -- basically, a player -- from both Orlando and Tulsa to complete trades. Also, more trades are a possibility, and coach Rob Murray is likely to make at least another cut or two, making Alaska's roster situation fluid.
"It's still kind of in flux,'' Murray said of his roster. "We're trying to fill voids, but overall I like the way we look, the way things are coming together.''
Murray on Wednesday must submit a 21-player active roster to the league. ECHL teams can have 21 players active in the first month of the season and 20 players active for the rest of the regular season. They can have an unlimited number of players on 21-day injured reserve and two players on a reserve list.
ECHL teams can dress a maximum of 18 players -- 16 skaters and two goaltenders -- for a game. The complement of skaters usually breaks down to 10 forwards and six defensemen.
The additions of Gregoire, who scored 45 goals in his last two seasons at North Dakota and is a fourth-year pro, and Jobke, a second-year pro, give the Aces 25 players -- 22 skaters and three goalies.
Molle, the Anchorage native who practiced with the Aces on Monday and Tuesday, said he is taking an emergency medical technician course in preparation for a firefighter's exam next month.
Molle, who owns a civil engineering degree from UAF, said he's eager to aid the Aces, even as he eyes a new career.
"I love to play hockey,'' Molle said. "If I can help out, I'd love to do it and be out there. I'm staying busy, that's for sure.''
Reach reporter Doyle Woody at dwoody@alaskadispatch.com and check out his blog at adn.com/hockeyblog