One of the more intriguing stories to keep an eye on around this time of year is the waiver wire. The NHL often has several worthy names to watch as training camp cuts amp up.
We’re not quite there just yet, but the closer we get to opening night, the more you’ll see teams start to put in claims on some of the roster cuts from around the league.
On Waivers today:
PHI: Attard, Belpedio, Gardner
OTT: Hodgson, Reinhardt, Rees, Pilon, Matinpalo, Guenette, Davies
SEA: Henman, Brouillard
CBJ: Sawchenko
NYR: Leschyshyn, Harpur, Belzile
VAN: Woo, Briseboishttps://t.co/gjOvqd9OMq— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) September 27, 2024
The Avs have used waivers in the past to fill out their roster. Last year, it was Ivan Prosvetov after learning that Pavel Francouz would be unable to play. But this year, Colorado might be the team putting valuable pieces on waivers. Each of the Avs’ top nine defensemen is eligible. After the top four of Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Josh Manson, and Samuel Girard, the blueline is still up in the air.
All of Sam Malinski, Calvin de Haan, Oliver Kylington, Erik Brannstrom, and Calle Rosen would need to clear waivers to be sent down to the AHL. Rosen could very well make it through, but as for the rest, it’s anyone’s guess. The Avs could also finagle the cap a little bit by carrying eight defensemen to start the year while they sort out which of the newcomers are worth keeping. Until Valeri Nichushkin is reinstated, they’ll have the cap space and flexibility to do so.
Malinski, in my opinion, isn’t going anywhere. And I think the team has that same thought.
Colorado Hockey Now:
The Avs are 0-2 in preseason action after falling 4-2 in Dallas on Friday. But, head coach Jared Bednar has not yet played many of his NHL regulars. One of the players he’s going to play a lot is Nikolai Kovalenko. The 24-year-old is pushing for a permanent role, possibly in the top six to star the season.
On Friday, Kovalenko was Colorado’s best forward.
Around The NHL:
San Jose Hockey Now: The Sharks are hopeful that this year’s No. 1 overall pick Macklin Celebrini and 2023 No. 4 overall draft pick Will Smith could build chemistry on the ice. If so, the duo would likely lead this franchise as part of their core for years to come. While the on-ice chemistry will have to wait, the off-ice chemistry is already in full effect.
When the season begins, Celebrini will live with former Sharks great Joe Thornton. And Smith is expected to live with Patrick Marleau’s family. But until then, the two are living together in a hotel room and building the type of bond you’d want from your two top prospects.
Boston Hockey Now: While the Avs continue to evaluate a few forwards for opening night, the Boston Bruins, who had a bit of an offseason roster shakeup, are doing the same. And one of the names turning heads at camp did the same with the Avalanche a year ago.
Riley Tufte, the towering 6-foot-6 forward who was the last forward cut from the Avs’ opening roster last fall, is impressing the Bruins staff. I’m not sure if Tufte will do enough to stick all season but for the sake of his development, he’s in good hands. In the past, the Bruins have turned former Avs A.J. Greer and Chris Wagner into reliable full-time NHLers. Could Tufte be next?
The Athletic: Could 2026 UFA Kirill Kaprizov be interested in joining the young Chicago Blackhawks core? The Athletic’s Mark Lazerus certainly believes so. Granted, Lazerus walked back the thought a little bit after it started to make its rounds in the rumor mill.
The initial thought was made on a podcast, where the long-time Blackhawks beat writer compared him to Marian Hossa. I’m sure Chicago would absolutely be interested if Kaprizov chose to test the market. But, unfortunately for them, so would basically every other team in the league.