The Boston Bruins have returned first-round draft pick Zach Hamill to the WHL's Everett Silvertips.
Hamill skated in an NHL exhibition game in New Hampshire on Thursday night and flew west to rejoin his Washington junior team, which was to open its season at home Friday night. The 19-year-old forward was the eighth player selected in the draft last June after leading the WHL in scoring with 93 points, including 32 goals.
The Florida Panthers assigned 13 players to the Rochester, N.Y., AHL entry: defencemen Peter Aston, Jordan Hendry, Franklin MacDonald and Martin Tuma, forwards David Brine, Dan Collins, Mike Duco, Tanner Glass, Drew Larman, Kenndal McArdle and Adam Taylor and goaltenders Tyler Plante and David Shantz.
McArdle, a left-winger from Toronto who played junior in Moose Jaw and Vancouver last winter, was a first-round draft pick, 20th overall, in 2005. Plante, an American, was WHL rookie of the year with Brandon in 2005.
The Dallas Stars assigned 12 players to the AHL's Iowa Stars: forwards Richard Clune, B.J. Crombeen, Alexander Naurov, Konstantin Pushkarev, Marty Sertich, Janos Vas and Tom Wandell, defencemen Matt Nickerson and Mario Scalzo and goaltenders Philippe Sauve, Steve Silverthorn and Tobias Stephan.
Clune was a 32-goal scorer for the OHL's Barrie Colts last winter. Sauve has appeared in NHL games with Colorado, Calgary, Phoenix and Boston.
The Stars also returned goaltender J.C. Blanchard to Victoriaville and defenceman Ivan Vishnevskiy to Rouyn-Noranda of the QMJHL.
In other roster moves:
- Atlanta Thrashers assigned centre Kevin Doell and defenceman Grant Lewis to the AHL's Chicago Wolves. Lewis has spent four years with the Wolves, while Lewis played college hockey at Darmouth last winter.
- Washington Capitals assigned Sasha Pokulok and Tyler Sloan to the AHL's Hershey Bears.
Meanwhile, the Columbus Blue Jackets reorganized their front office.
Don Boyd gets a new title. The native of Dryden, Ont., who has been in the organization since 1999 and was director of player personnel since August 2005, now is director of hockey operations and player personnel.
Chris MacFarland, an American who was previously manager of hockey operations, was named assistant general manager.
John Williams was named assistant director of amateur scouting. The native of London, Ont., a former scout for the OHL's Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, has been with the Blue Jackets since 2000.
Kjell Larsson was named European pro scout, and Bryan Stewart joins the organization as video scout after leaving the Buffalo Sabres.
On the broadcast front, TSN announced that former player, coach and general manager Mike Milbury has been hired as a studio analyst. He'll make his debut Sept. 28 during a fantasy draft special and appear each week on Wednesday Night Hockey.