ALBANY — Already facing some personnel decisions, the Albany River Rats saw their roster grow by three more on Tuesday.

The parent Carolina Hurricanes reassigned defenseman Tim Conboy and forwards Trevor Gillies and Joe Jensen to their top farm club.

While the move left the Hur­ricanes’ roster at its limit of 23, not including the injured Justin Williams and Scott Walker, it swelled Albany’s ranks to 28 players: 15 forwards, nine defensemen and goalies Justin Peters and Daniel Manzato.

Albany opens its 16th AHL season at home Saturday against East Division rival Bridgeport.

“We still have some decisions to make, no matter [that] they send guys down,” Rats first-year head coach-GM Jeff Daniels said following practice Tuesday morning.

“I don’t know what the plan is or how long they’re going to be here, but I’m definitely going to welcome them while they’re here.”

Conboy, 26, and Jensen, 25, were both bothered by injuries toward the end of training camp; Jensen had to be carried from the ice midway through practice last Friday with a hip pointer.

Gillies, 29, impressed Carolina brass with his attitude, fitness,

energy and toughness.

“Trevor is a great guy to have on the ice and in the locker room. I know he made a big impression in Carolina,” said Daniels, a Car­olina assistant coach the past four years. “All of a sudden, it comes to a point where you’ve got to get down to your roster, and he’s the odd man out.”

Conboy has two games left to serve on an eight-game AHL suspension stemming from Game 1 of Albany’s first-round playoff

series with Philadelphia. Jensen was

acquired in midseason from Pittsburgh for center David Gove.

“Timmy still has some time left on his suspension, so he’s going to be another week away before he plays. That will give him a chance to get healed up,” Daniels said. “Joe’s a guy that’s going to be a great energy guy that can get in there on the forecheck, and kind of get under people’s skin.”

Conboy was 2-2-4 with a team-high 191 penalty minutes in 52 games for Albany, also making his NHL debut and picking up five assists in 19 games with Carolina. Jensen had eight goals and 11 points in 24 games after being acquired, and one goal in six NHL games for the ’Canes.

Albany’s emotional leader and one of the AHL’s most respected fighters, Gillies went 1-1-2 with 112 Penalty minutes in 51 games for the Rats.

“They are three guys that will definitely make our team better,” Daniels said.

NOTEBOOK

No decision has been made on Cohoes native Marc Cavosie, who remains with the team on a free-agent tryout, trying to earn a contract. He had two assists in a preseason loss to Portland on Sunday.

“He has shown some offensive skill, yet he worked hard two ways,” Daniels said. “It’ll be a dec­ision we make over the next couple of days.” . . .

Also among the forwards is second-year pro Bobby Hughes, who continues to skate with the team wearing a yellow non-contact sweater. There is no timetable for his return. . . .

Defenseman Bryan Rodney and center Dwight Helminen, assigned to Albany over the weekend, practiced for the first time with the team on Tuesday.