The Phoenix Coyotes sent rookie right wing Alex Bourret.

October 2, 2008

The Phoenix Coyotes sent rookie right wing Alex Bourret. To their AHL affiliate in San Antonio on Wednesday and waived rookie defenseman Ryan Lannon and veteran center Mike Zigomanis.

The moves left 27 players on the Coyotes’ training camp roster heading into Friday night’s preseason game at Anaheim.

Zigomanis had 14 goals and nine assists in 75 games for Phoenix in 2006-07, but had just two goals and one assist in 33 games for the Coyotes last season.

Bourret, who played at Harvard from 2001-05 and was Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL last season, scored his first goal of the preseason in Phoenix’s 4-3 overtime loss at San Jose on Tuesday night.

Lannon has played the past two seasons in the AHL for Hartford and Chicago.

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Sabres claim Ellis off waivers.

The Buffalo Sabres have claimed left wing Matt Ellis off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings, Buffalo Sabres GM Darcy Regier announced today.

Ellis, 27, started last season with the Red Wings but was claimed off waivers by the Kings on Feb. 21. He picked up eight points (3+5) in 54 games between the teams. He has played 70 career NHL games.

Ellis played with Detroit’s AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids from 2003 to ‘07, collecting 153 points (69+84) in 282 games.

The 6-foot, 207-pound native of Welland, Ont., played four years of junior hockey with the Toronto St. Michael’s Majors of the Ontario Hockey League. Ellis signed as an undrafted free agent with Detroit in May 2002.

The Sabres also announced they will be holding a “Party in the Plaza” prior to the season opener Oct. 10. Game time against the Montreal Canadiens is 7:30 p.m.

The pre-game festivities will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. outside HSBC Arena in the Plaza area located near Perry and Illinois streets. Strictly Hip will perform and there will also be special guest appearances throughout the night.