Late this morning the Flyers announced that they have loaned goaltender Eetu Makiniemi to the AHL's Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The move officially reduces the training camp roster to 36 players.

However, the official number includes defenseman Ryan Ellis, who is not officially retired but is never going to play another NHL game. It also includes various players who are locks to be waived (if applicable for purpose of AHL assignment or, if waiver exempt, have yet to be loaned but figure to be in upcoming days.

Example: Forward prospect Denver Barkey has been dealing with mono. When cleared, he will be sent back to the OHL's London Knights. London teammate Oliver Bonk will also head back to the OHL club for his draft-plus-two season at some point.

Players such as Rodrigo Abols, Oscar Eklind, Anthony Richard and goalie Cal Petersen will also be Phantoms-bound. Samu Tuomaala has been sidelined in NHL camp with an injury suffered near the end of rookie camp.

Alexei Kolosov could see action in Monday's NHL preseason road game against the Islanders. After that, the Flyers play Boston (away) and the New Jersey Devils (home) to wrap up the preseason. Flyers general manager Daniel Briere is slated to speak on Monday about Kolosov.

The major decisions that loom:

* Whether to carry 13 or 14 forwards on the season opening road trip OR to carry seven or eight defensemen on the opening roster. Olle Lycksell (subject to waivers), Adam Ginning (waiver exempt as of now) and Emil Andrae (waiver exempt this season) are all bubble players at their respective positions.

* Whether to give Jett Luchanko the nine-game NHL trial that is allowed before burning the first year of the 18-year-old's entry-level deal. There seems to be some debate as to which is the better course of action for the big picture.

* If Luchanko returns to the OHL's Guelph Storm, whether to deploy Scott Laughton and/or Noah Cates at center vs. left wing.

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