As the season rapidly approaches, Montreal looks to put the finishing touches on their roster, and have sent five forwards and 3 defensemen to their AHL affiliate. None of the cuts are surprising, however Greg Pateryn did have a solid pre-season, and should see some NHL action, pending injuries to d-men.

Press release:

The Canadiens will play their last preseason game tonight against the Ottawa Senators , at the Bell Centre.

There are still 27 players at camp (15 forwards, 10 defensemen, 2 goaltenders), including four players sidelined due to injuries: Alexei Emelin George Parros and Davis Drewiske

The Bulldogs' press release:

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - Montreal Canadiens and Hamilton Bulldogs General Manager Marc Bergevin announced today the Canadiens have assigned five forwards and three defencemen to the Bulldogs.

Among the assignments are forwards Mike Blunden, Martin St. Pierre, Christian Thomas, Nick Tarnasky and Patrick Holland, as well as defencemen Magnus Nygren, Darren Dietz and Greg Pateryn. Blunden, Holland and Pateryn all played for the Bulldogs in 2012-2013.

Blunden, 26, split last season between Hamilton and Montreal. In 54 regular season games with Hamilton, the 6'4", 214-pound forward recorded 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) and 76 penalty minutes. In five regular season games with Montreal, the Toronto, Ontario native recorded no points and four penalty minutes. In 311 career regular season American Hockey League games, Blunden has recorded 150 points (65 goals, 85 assists) and 382 penalty minutes. In 95 career regular season National Hockey League games, Blunden has recorded eight points (four goals, four assists) and 100 penalty minutes. He was originally selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round (43rd overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

St. Pierre, 30, spent last season as captain of the AHL's Rockford IceHogs. In 76 regular season games with Rockford, the 5'9", 187-pound forward recorded 59 points (26 goals, 33 assists) and 59 penalty minutes. In 516 career regular season AHL games, the Ottawa, Ontario native has recorded 528 points (151 goals, 377 assists) and 509 penalty minutes. In 38 career regular season NHL games, the undrafted forward has recorded eight points (three goals, five assists) and 12 penalty minutes.

Thomas, 21, split last season between the AHL's Connecticut Whale and NHL's New York Rangers. In 73 regular season games with Connecticut, the 5'9", 170-pound forward recorded 35 points (19 goals, 16 assists) and 15 penalty minutes. In one regular season game with New York, the Toronto, Ontario native recorded no points and no penalty minutes. Before turning pro, Thomas played 244 career regular season Ontario Hockey League games with the London Knights and Oshawa Generals, recording 257 points (137 goals, 120 assists) and 91 penalty minutes. He and his father, Steve Thomas, are the only father-son duo to both score 50 goals in an OHL season. He was originally selected by the New York Rangers in the second round (40th overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Tarnasky, 28, spent last season with the AHL's Rochester Americans. In 74 regular season games with Rochester, the 6'2", 230-pound forward recorded 26 points (16 goals, 10 assists) and 138 penalty minutes. In 293 career regular season AHL games, the Rocky Mountain House, Alberta native has recorded 89 points (47 goals, 42 assists) and 571 penalty minutes. In 245 career regular season NHL games, Tarnasky has recorded 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists) and 297 penalty minutes. He was originally selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the ninth round (287th overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Holland, 21, spent last season with Hamilton. In 69 regular season games with Hamilton, the 6'0", 175-pound forward recorded 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) and eight penalty minutes. Before turning pro, the Lethbridge, Alberta native played 205 career regular season Western Hockey League games with the Tri-City Americans, recording 208 points (63 goals, 145 assists) and 86 penalty minutes. He was originally selected by the Calgary Flames in the seventh round (193rd overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Nygren, 23, won the Salming Trophy as defenceman of the year in the Swedish Elite League last season. In 51 regular season games with Farjestad BK, the 6'1", 193-pound defenceman recorded 32 points (13 goals, 19 assists) and 49 penalty minutes. In 132 career regular season SEL games, the Karlstad, Sweden native has recorded 65 points (24 goals, 41 assists) and 63 penalty minutes. He was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the fourth round (113th overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Dietz, 20, spent last season with the WHL's Saskatoon Blades. In 72 regular season games, the 6'1", 204-pound defenceman recorded 58 points (24 goals, 34 assists) and 100 penalty minutes. In 220 career regular season WHL games with Saskatoon, the Medicine Hat, Alberta native recorded 131 points (48 goals, 83 assists) and 288 penalty minutes. He was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the fifth round (138th overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Pateryn, 23, split last season between Hamilton and Montreal. In 39 games with Hamilton, the 6'2", 219-pound defenceman recorded 12 points (seven goals, five assists) and 27 penalty minutes. In three regular season games with Montreal, the Sterling Heights, Michigan native recorded no points and no penalty minutes. Before turning pro, Pateryn played 142 regular season National Collegiate Athletic Association games with the University of Michigan Wolverines, recording 43 points (six goals, 37 assists) and 145 penalty minutes. He was originally selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fifth round (128th overall) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

These latest assignments bring Hamilton's training camp roster to a total of 41 players, including 23 forwards, 14 defencemen and four goaltenders. Camp invitee, goaltender Chris Festarini, has been assigned to the Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League.

Hamilton's first pre-season game will be played on Friday, September 27th at 7:30 p.m. when they will host the Toronto Marlies at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in Oakville. The Bulldogs regular season and home opener is scheduled for Friday, October 11th at 7:30 p.m. against the St. John's IceCaps at Copps Coliseum.