The clear day roster submitted to the American Hockey League by the Portland Pirates should provide them with plenty of flexibility during their drive for a spot in the Calder Cup playoffs.

Each AHL team had to submit a 22-man roster by 3 p.m. Monday, and the league released the lists Tuesday morning. Only those players listed on the clear day roster are eligible to compete in the remainder of the regular season and in the playoffs. But those on the list can be replaced as a result of recall, injury or suspension.

As many as five players on Portland’s clear day roster may not be available to the Pirates for the rest of the season.

“Clear day allows you to manipulate the roster a little bit, and there’s no other way to put it,” said Brad Treliving, assistant general manager of the Phoenix Coyotes, NHL parent of the Pirates.

Defensemen David Rundblad and Michael Stone, both currently with the Coyotes on recall, were still included on the list.

“I don’t know when or if (Rundblad and Stone) will return to Portland,” Treliving said. “But if they don’t stay with us, they will be able to go back and play.”

Treliving also was unsure of the status of defenseman Dean Arsene, who has missed the last five games because of an upper-body injury. He was also included on the list.

“He’s looked better in the last five or six days, but we just don’t know if he will be able to make it through (the season),” Treliving said. “It’s just that kind of injury.”

Forwards Colin Long, who has missed the last three months because of post-concussion syndrome, and Ryan Hollweg, who recently had knee surgery, also were included.

“When a player has a season-ending injury like Ryan Hollweg has, you include him on the list so another player can play in his place,” Treliving said. “It gives us a lot of flexibility. This way, we can play our best players.”

Hollweg’s absence should open up a spot for Ryan Duncan, who was not included on the clear day roster despite his 13 goals and 15 assists in his first 49 games as an AHL player.

Other Pirates excluded from the clear day roster were goalie Marc Cheverie, defensemen Corey Syvret, Mark Louis and Nick Ross, as well as forwards Evan Bloodoff, Spencer Bennett and Ashton Rome.

Sixteen of the AHL’s 30 teams qualify for the Calder Cup playoffs, which begin during the third week of April.

With 18 games left to play, the Pirates trail the Worcester Sharks and Manchester Monarchs by one point for the Eastern Conference’s last playoff spot.

 

Staff Writer Paul Betit can be contacted at 791-6424 or at: pbetit@pressherald.com

Twitter: PaulBetitPPH