Devils send Merrill, Matteau to AHL

The New Jersey Devils trimmed eight players from their training-camp roster, including defensemen Jon Merrill and Eric Gelinas, and forward Stefan Matteau. They will start the season in the American Hockey League with the Albany Devils.

The Devils also sent goalie Scott Wedgewood, defenseman Brandon Burlon, and forwards Rod Pelley, Tim Sestito and Mike Sislo to Albany. Defenseman Damon Severson was returned to his junior team, the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League.

New Jersey now has 28 players left in training camp -- three goalies, eight defensemen and 17 forwards.

Merrill and Gelinas should be part of the Devils' defense in the future. Gelinas, who has played the past two seasons in Albany, was the Devils' second-round pick (No. 54) in 2009. Merrill, who is entering his first full professional season after playing three seasons at the University of Michigan, was their second-round pick (No. 38) in 2010.

They were pushing in training camp, but there wasn't any room for them considering the Devils already have Andy Greene, Bryce Salvador, Anton Volchenkov, Adam Larsson, Mark Fayne, Marek Zidlicky and Peter Harrold. Alexander Urbom also is on the training-camp roster.

Matteau, who is 19 years old, was the Devils' first-round pick (No. 29) in 2012. He had three points in 17 games last season before being returned to his junior team.