Defenseman Luke Witkowski and forward Gabriel Dumont both cleared NHL waivers on Saturday, allowing the Tampa Bay Lightning to assign them to the Syracuse Crunch.

Both veterans will be available when the Crunch hosts Utica in a preseason game at 5 p.m.

The two players are strong candidates to be Syracuse's captain this season, replacing Mike Angelidis. Witkowski is entering his fourth full season with Syracuse and Dumont wore the C for St. John's last season.

The Crunch visits Utica for another exhibition game at 5 p.m. Sunday. Syracuse opens its regular season at home against Rochester on Oct. 15.