- Avalanche winger Mikko Rantanen is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury, relays Peter Baugh of The Athletic (Twitter link). However, head coach Jared Bednar indicated that Rantanen should be ready to go for the start of the regular season next week. Meanwhile, center Ben Meyers, who is battling for a fourth-line spot with the Avs, is also listed as day-to-day.
Avalanche Rumors
Training Camp Cuts: 10/04/23
The start of the regular season is less than a week away, and clubs are narrowing down their opening-day rosters. As always, we’ll track roster moves here.
Anaheim Ducks (via team release)
G Calle Clang (to San Diego, AHL)
F Glenn Gawdin (to San Diego, AHL)
D Scott Harrington (released from PTO to San Diego, AHL)
F Nikita Nesterenko (to San Diego, AHL)
F Pavol Regenda (to San Diego, AHL)
Boston Bruins (via team release)
F Trevor Kuntar (to Providence, AHL)
F Marc McLaughlin (to Providence, AHL)
F Jayson Megna (to Providence, AHL) pending waiver clearance
F Georgii Merkulov (to Providence, AHL)
Buffalo Sabres (via team release)
F Jiri Kulich (to Rochester, AHL)
F Brett Murray (to Rochester, AHL) pending waiver clearance
F Isak Rosén (to Rochester, AHL)
Chicago Blackhawks (via CapFriendly)
G Jaxson Stauber (to Rockford, AHL)
Colorado Avalanche (via team release)
F Peter Holland (to Colorado, AHL)
D Nate Clurman (to Colorado, AHL)
F Oskar Olausson (to Colorado, AHL)
F Ondrej Pavel (to Colorado, AHL)
G Trent Miner (to Colorado, AHL)
Detroit Red Wings (via team release)
F Artem Anisimov (released from PTO, remains free agent)
Minnesota Wild (via team release) (supplementary release)
F Jujhar Khaira (to Iowa, AHL) pending waiver clearance
F Vinni Lettieri (to Iowa, AHL) pending waiver clearance
D Dakota Mermis (to Iowa, AHL) pending waiver clearance
F Nic Petan (to Iowa, AHL) pending waiver clearance
F Samuel Walker (to Iowa, AHL)
G Jesper Wallstedt (to Iowa, AHL)
New Jersey Devils (via team release)
D Callan Foote (to Utica, AHL) pending waiver clearance
G Erik Källgren (to Utica, AHL)
Philadelphia Flyers (via team release)
D Ronald Attard (to Lehigh Valley, AHL)
D Adam Ginning (to Lehigh Valley, AHL)
F Tanner Laczynski (to Lehigh Valley, AHL)
D Victor Mete (to Lehigh Valley, AHL)
G Calvin Petersen (to Lehigh Valley, AHL)
F Samu Tuomaala (to Lehigh Valley, AHL)
San Jose Sharks (via team release)
F Justin Bailey (released from PTO to San Jose, AHL)
D Leon Gawanke (to San Jose, AHL) pending waiver clearance
This page will be updated throughout the day.
Training Camp Cuts: 10/03/23
Now exactly one week away from the first game of the 2023-24 NHL season, teams are working overtime to get their roster down to 23 players. As always, we’ll keep track of those roster moves here.
Boston Bruins (via a team release)
D Mike Callahan (to Providence, AHL)
F Fabian Lysell (to Providence, AHL)
D Alec Regula (to Providence, AHL) pending waiver clearance
D Dan Renouf (to Providence, AHL) pending waiver clearance
F Anthony Richard (to Providence, AHL) pending waiver clearance
D Reilly Walsh (to Providence, AHL) pending waiver clearance
D Parker Wotherspoon (to Providence, AHL) pending waiver clearance
Calgary Flames (via a team release)
F Clark Bishop (to Calgary, AHL)
D Colton Poolman (to Calgary, AHL)
G Oscar Dansk (to Calgary, AHL)
F Ben Jones (to Calgary, AHL)
D Brady Lyle (to Calgary, AHL)
D Yan Kuznetsov (to Calgary, AHL)
Colorado Avalanche (via X)(via Peter Baugh/The Athletic)
D Wyatt Aamodt (to Colorado, AHL)
F Peter Holland (to Colorado, AHL)
D Corey Schueneman (to Colorado, AHL)
Edmonton Oilers (via Mark Spector/Sportsnet)
F Xavier Bourgault (to Bakersfield, AHL)
F Seth Griffith (to Bakersfield, AHL) pending waiver clearance
F James Hamblin (to Bakersfield, AHL)
New Jersey Devils (via X)
F Graeme Clarke (to Utica, AHL)
F Kyle Criscuolo (to Utica, AHL)
D Daniil Misyul (to Utica, AHL)
F Chase Stillman (to Utica, AHL)
Toronto Maple Leafs (via X)
D Spencer Sova (to Erie, OHL)
Winnipeg Jets (via X)
F Brad Lambert (to Manitoba, AHL)
F Jeff Malott (to Manitoba, AHL)
D Ashton Sautner (to Manitoba, AHL)
F Dominic Toninato (to Manitoba, AHL)
This page will be updated throughout the day
Waivers: 10/02/23
10/3/2023: Following yesterday’s list of the waiver wire, Johnston reports that all players on the list have cleared.
10/2/2023: Another large slate of players was placed on waivers today by a handful of teams across the league, with the regular season just eight days away. Today’s full list of players hitting the waiver wire comes courtesy of TSN’s Chris Johnston:
Anaheim Ducks
Arizona Coyotes
F Travis Barron
D Cameron Crotty
F Jan Jeník
D Steven Kampfer
F Justin Kirkland
F John Leonard
F Ryan McGregor
G Matt Villalta
Boston Bruins
Calgary Flames
F Clark Bishop
G Oscar Dansk
F Ben Jones
D Colton Poolman
Colorado Avalanche
D Wyatt Aamodt
D Corey Schueneman
Dallas Stars
D Gavin Bayreuther
F Nicholas Caamano
F Fredrik Karlstrom
D Derrick Pouliot
Florida Panthers
F Rasmus Asplund
D Lucas Carlsson
F Gerald Mayhew
New Jersey Devils
Ottawa Senators (announcement arrived Monday night, meaning players may be officially on Tuesday’s waivers)
D Jacob Bernard-Docker
D Jacob Larsson
F Matthew Highmore
F Egor Sokolov
Philadelphia Flyers
D Louis Belpedio
F Adam Brooks
F Rhett Gardner
F Cooper Marody
D Victor Mete
Avalanche Expect Josh Manson Back For Season Opener, Pavel Francouz Still Sidelined
The Colorado Avalanche expect defenseman Josh Manson will be ready for the team’s season opener on October 11 in Los Angeles; however, they also confirmed backup goaltender Pavel Francouz will begin the season on the shelf, head coach Jared Bednar told reporters Monday. Neither player has appeared during preseason action thus far.
Manson has not suited up since Game 5 of the Avalanche’s first-round loss at the hands of the Seattle Kraken in seven games. Today, Manson told reporters, including NHL.com’s Ryan Boulding, that he tore an oblique muscle earlier in the series and could not continue playing through it, resulting in offseason surgery. Bednar mentioned last month that Manson is also rehabbing a separate lower-body injury.
Meanwhile, Colorado announced at the beginning of the offseason that Francouz had undergone adductor surgery and was expected to be ready in time for training camp, but that hasn’t happened. Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reported last month that the Avalanche were eyeing the trade market for goalie insurance as they no longer believed Francouz would be ready for the start of the season, and the oft-injured backup still has an unclear timeline for a return. Much like the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are dealing with a much more consequential injury to starter Andrei Vasilevskiy, Colorado could look to make a waiver claim to add goalie depth as more third-string options hit the wire, as the Columbus Blue Jackets did with Spencer Martin last week.
It’s certainly not a good sign for Francouz, who’s still managed to be effective during his time as a backup option in Colorado despite a lengthy injury history. Making 73 regular-season appearances for the Avs since coming over from Europe in 2018 at the age of 28, the Czech goalie missed the entire 2020-21 season and the first 24 games of 2021-22 with an ankle injury. A recurring lower-body injury limited him to just 16 starts last season as well. For now, 23-year-old prospect Justus Annunen is the presumptive backup to starter Alexandar Georgiev.
However, it’s certainly good news regarding Manson, who spent most of the first season of a four-year deal last year on the shelf. Recording ten points in just 27 games, Manson averaged 17:41 per game during his first full season in the Mile High City. Manson is no stranger to consistent injuries, however, eclipsing the 70-game mark just four times during his eight-year career with the Anaheim Ducks before coming over to Colorado at the 2022 trade deadline. With both Bowen Byram and Samuel Girard able to play their off-side, expect a more limited third-pair role for Manson to start 2023-24 as the 31-year-old rebounds from a tough campaign. It’s far from ideal, however, given his substantial $4.5MM cap hit through the 2025-26 season.
Training Camp Cuts: 10/02/23
AHL training camps are beginning to kick into gear as NHL teams make some of their final training camp cuts. As always, we’ll keep track of those roster moves here.
Anaheim Ducks (via team release)
D Trevor Carrick (to San Diego, AHL)
D Drew Helleson (to San Diego, AHL)
D Tyson Hinds (to San Diego, AHL)
F Jaxsen Wiebe (to San Diego, AHL)
Arizona Coyotes (via team release)
F Josh Doan (to Tucson, AHL)
F Curtis Douglas (to Tucson, AHL)
F Conor Geekie (to Wenatchee, WHL)
F Milos Kelemen (to Tucson, AHL)
D Michael Kesselring (to Tucson, AHL)
D Patrik Koch (to Tucson, AHL)
D Vladislav Kolyachonok (to Tucson, AHL)
F Ben McCartney (to Tucson, AHL)
D Montana Onyebuchi (to Tucson, AHL)
F Austin Poganski (released from PTO to Tucson, AHL)
F Aku Räty (to Tucson, AHL)
F Nathan Smith (to Tucson, AHL)
Boston Bruins (via team release)
F John Farinacci (to Providence, AHL)
G Kyle Keyser (to Providence, AHL) pending waiver clearance
Chicago Blackhawks (via The Athletic’s Mark Lazerus)
G Drew Commesso (to Rockford, AHL)
D Louis Crevier (to Rockford, AHL)
D Ethan Del Mastro (to Rockford, AHL)
F Dave Gust (to Rockford, AHL)
F Mike Hardman (to Rockford, AHL)
F Gavin Hayes (to Flint, OHL)
F Paul Ludwinski (to Kingston, OHL)
F Ryder Rolston (to Rockford, AHL)
D Filip Roos (to Rockford, AHL)
F Brett Seney (to Rockford, AHL)
Colorado Avalanche (via Twitter)
G Arvid Holm (to Colorado, AHL)
F Ivan Ivan (to Colorado, AHL)
Dallas Stars (via team release)
F Francesco Arcuri (to Texas, AHL)
F Ben Berard (released from ATO to Texas, AHL)
G Christopher Gibson (released from PTO)
D Artem Grushnikov (to Texas, AHL)
D Michael Karow (released from PTO to Texas, AHL)
D Christian Kyrou (to Texas, AHL)
F Kyle McDonald (to Texas, AHL)
F Keaton Mastrodonato (released from ATO to Texas, AHL)
F Curtis McKenzie (released from PTO to Texas, AHL)
D Jacob Murray (released from PTO)
G Matt Murray (to Texas, AHL)
F Scott Reedy (to Texas, AHL)
F Matthew Seminoff (to Texas, AHL)
F Antonio Stranges (to Texas, AHL)
G Bryan Thomson (released from ATO to Texas, AHL)
D Gavin White (to Texas, AHL)
D Benjamin Zloty (released from ATO to Texas, AHL)
Florida Panthers (via team release)
F Liam Arnsby (to North Bay, OHL)
D Mike Benning (to Charlotte, AHL)
F Riley Bezeau (to Charlotte, AHL)
D Santtu Kinnunen (to Charlotte, AHL)
F Ryan McAllister (to Charlotte, AHL)
D Evan Nause (to Charlotte, AHL)
D Calle Sjalin (to Charlotte, AHL)
D Zachary Uens (to Charlotte, AHL)
G Ludovic Waeber (to Charlotte, AHL)
F Jake Wise (to Charlotte, AHL)
Montreal Canadiens (via team release)
F Lias Andersson (to Laval, AHL)
F Philippe Maillet (to Laval, AHL)
New Jersey Devils (via team release)
F Kyle Criscuolo (to Utica, AHL) pending waiver clearance
D Michael Vukojevic (to Utica, AHL)
New York Rangers (via team release)
G Louis Domingue (to Hartford, AHL)
D Mac Hollowell (to Hartford, AHL)
Ottawa Senators (via team release)
G Kevin Mandolese (to Belleville, AHL)
D Tyler Kleven (to Belleville, AHL)
D Nikolas Matinpalo (to Belleville, AHL)
F Zack Ostapchuk (to Belleville, AHL)
F Cole Reinhardt (to Belleville, AHL)
Philadelphia Flyers (via team release)
D Louis Belpedio (to Lehigh Valley, AHL) pending waiver clearance
F Adam Brooks (to Lehigh Valley, AHL) pending waiver clearance
F Matt Brown (released from PTO to Lehigh Valley, AHL)
F Brendan Furry (released from PTO to Lehigh Valley, AHL)
F Rhett Gardner (to Lehigh Valley, AHL) pending waiver clearance
F Olle Lycksell (to Lehigh Valley, AHL)
D Matteo Mann (to Saint John, QMJHL)
F Cooper Marody (to Lehigh Valley, AHL) pending waiver clearance
D Victor Mete (to Lehigh Valley, AHL) pending waiver clearance
St. Louis Blues (via Matthew DeFranks of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
F William Bitten (to Springfield, AHL)
D Wyatt Kalynuk (to Springfield, AHL)
F Hugh McGing (to Springfield, AHL)
F Matthew Peca (to Springfield, AHL)
Toronto Maple Leafs (via team release)
F Nicholas Abruzzese (to Toronto, AHL)
F Joseph Blandisi (released from PTO to Toronto, AHL)
G Luke Cavallin (released from PTO to Toronto, AHL)
D Nolan Dillingham (released from ATO to Toronto, AHL)
F Max Ellis (to Toronto, AHL)
D Matt Hellickson (released from PTO to Toronto, AHL)
G Dennis Hildeby (to Toronto, AHL)
F Roni Hirvonen (to Toronto, AHL)
F Braeden Kressler (to Toronto, AHL)
F Robert Mastrosimone (released from PTO to Toronto, AHL)
D Topi Niemelä (to Toronto, AHL)
F Dmitri Ovchinnikov (to Toronto, AHL)
F Jay O’Brien (released from PTO to Toronto, AHL)
G Vyacheslav Peksa (to Toronto, AHL)
D Matteo Pietroniro (released from PTO to Toronto, AHL)
D Marshall Rifai (to Toronto, AHL)
F Logan Shaw (released from PTO to Toronto, AHL)
F Neil Shea (released from PTO to Toronto, AHL)
F Tate Singleton (released from PTO to Toronto, AHL)
F Josiah Slavin (released from PTO to Toronto, AHL)
F Alex Steeves (to Toronto, AHL)
F Keenan Suthers (released from PTO to Toronto, AHL)
F Ryan Tverberg (to Toronto, AHL)
D Jonny Tychonick (released from PTO to Toronto, AHL)
D William Villeneuve (to Toronto, AHL)
F Ty Voit (to Toronto, AHL)
F Tyler Weiss (released from PTO to Toronto, AHL)
Washington Capitals (via team release)
D Chase Priskie (to Hershey, AHL)
F Riley Sutter (to Hershey, AHL)
Winnipeg Jets (via Twitter)
F Colby Barlow (to Owen Sound, OHL)
F Wyatt Bongiovanni (to Manitoba, AHL)
F Chaz Lucius (to Manitoba, AHL)
F Kristian Reichel (to Manitoba, AHL)
D Elias Salomonsson (to Manitoba, AHL)
F Danny Zhilkin (to Manitoba, AHL)
This page will be updated throughout the day
Peter Holland To Continue PTO In AHL
Scott Powers of The Athletic tweeted tonight that Chicago Blackhawks forward Samuel Savoie had successful surgery today on his right femur and is expected to fully recover. The 19-year-old prospect was injured yesterday after colliding with defenseman Alex Goligoski in a game against the Minnesota Wild and had to be stretchered off the ice. He was unable to travel with the Blackhawks and reportedly had surgery in Minnesota this morning.
Savoie has been ruled out of action indefinitely and appears to have a long recovery ahead of him after suffering a very scary injury. The 2022 third-round pick was expected to return to the QMJHL to be a big piece of the Gatineau Olympiques this season, but his season might have ended before it even began. Savoie had 26 goals and 33 assists in 60 games last year for the Olympiques and was expected to take a big step forward offensively this season.
In other evening notes:
- Peter Baugh of The Athletic tweeted that forward Peter Holland has elected to continue his PTO with the Colorado Avalanche and report to their AHL affiliate the Colorado Eagles. Holland will join the AHL camp as he continues his quest to get back to the NHL for the first time since 2017-18 when he dressed in 23 games for the New York Rangers. Holland was always a long shot to make the Avalanche as he did not play professional hockey last season. Despite the setback, one must admire his determination to make it back to the NHL.
- Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia writes about the latest in the Ottawa Senators negotiations with restricted free agent center Shane Pinto. Garrioch believes that the two sides will need to find common ground as Pinto is looking for $2.5MM per year on a two-year bridge contract, while the Senators are looking for a Morgan Frost type contract at $2.1MM per season. Garrioch adds that his belief is that Pinto wants to remain a member of the Senators and that the team wants to keep him long-term. Pinto had 20 goals and 15 assists last season in 82 games and is seen by many as the long-term solution for the Senators in the third-line center role. His presence will be key for the Senators as their bottom-six forward group is very underwhelming without Pinto centering the third line.
Training Camp Cuts: 09/29/23
It’s another day in the NHL preseason, meaning it’s another day of cuts and reassignments. Yesterday was a busy one for player movement across North American hockey’s various preseasons, and today could be no different. We’ll track those transactions here.
Boston Bruins (via team release)
D Jackson Edward (to London, OHL)
D Ryan Mast (to Providence, AHL)
Buffalo Sabres (via team release)
F Christopher Brown (released from PTO, to Rochester, AHL)
F Filip Cederqvist (to Rochester, AHL)
F Riley Fiddler-Schultz (released from PTO, to Rochester, AHL)
D Brandon Fortunato (released from PTO, to Rochester, AHL)
F Damien Giroux (released from PTO, to Rochester, AHL)
G Michael Houser (released from PTO, to Rochester, AHL)
D Chris Jandric (released from PTO, to Rochester, AHL)
F Mason Jobst (released from PTO, to Rochester, AHL)
F Aleksandr Kisakov (to Rochester, AHL)
F Tyson Kozak (to Rochester, AHL)
F Dominick Mersch (released from PTO, to Rochester, AHL)
F Michael Mersch (released from PTO, to Rochester, AHL)
D Zach Metsa (released from PTO, to Rochester, AHL)
F Olivier Nadeau (to Rochester, AHL)
F Viktor Neuchev (to Rochester, AHL)
D Nikita Novikov (to Rochester, AHL)
D Ethan Prow (released from PTO, to Rochester, AHL)
D Nicolas Savoie (released from PTO, to Rochester, AHL)
F Graham Slaggert (released from PTO, to Rochester, AHL)
F Brendan Warren (released from PTO, to Rochester, AHL)
F Linus Weissbach (to Rochester, AHL)
Calgary Flames (via team release)
F Parker Bell (to Calgary, AHL)
D Mikael Diotte (released from ATO)
D Jarrod Gourley (to Calgary, AHL)
D Etienne Morin (to Moncton, QMJHL)
F Brett Sutter (to Calgary, AHL)
F William Stromgren (to Calgary, AHL)
Chicago Blackhawks (via NBC Sports Chicago’s Charlie Roumeliotis)
D Josh Healey (released from PTO, to Rockford, AHL)
F Jalen Luypen (to Rockford, AHL)
D Ross MacDougall (released from PTO, to Rockford, AHL)
D Josh Maniscalco (released from PTO, to Rockford, AHL)
D Andrew Perrott (released from PTO, to Rockford, AHL)
Colorado Avalanche (via team release)
F Henry Bowlby (to Colorado, AHL)
F Tanner Kero (to Colorado, AHL)
F Matthew Stienburg (to Colorado, AHL)
Columbus Blue Jackets (via team release)
F Roman Ahcan (to Cleveland, AHL)
F Tyler Angle (to Cleveland, AHL)
D Ole-Julian Bjorgvik-Holm (to Cleveland, AHL)
F Cameron Butler (to Cleveland, AHL)
D Cole Clayton (to Cleveland, AHL)
F Luca Del Bel Belluz (to Cleveland, AHL)
G Eric Dop (released from PTO, to Cleveland, AHL)
F Jake Gaudet (to Cleveland, AHL)
D Samuel Knazko (to Cleveland, AHL)
D Nicolas Meloche (released from PTO)
F Mikael Pyyhtia (to Cleveland, AHL)
F Martin Rysavy (released from PTO, to Cleveland, AHL)
D Thomas Schemitsch (released from PTO)
F Owen Sillinger (to Cleveland, AHL)
Los Angeles Kings (via team release)
F Kaleb Lawrence (to Owen Sound, OHL)
F Nathan Burke (released from tryout)
F Sean Tschigerl (released from tryout)
F Ty Thorpe (released from tryout)
D Max Coyle (released from tryout)
Minnesota Wild (per team release)
F Kale Kessy (released from PTO, to Iowa, AHL)
D Simon Johansson (to Iowa, AHL)
D Kyle Masters (to Iowa, AHL)
F Greg Meireles (released from PTO, to Iowa, AHL)
F Pavel Novak (to Iowa, AHL)
D David Spacek (to Iowa, AHL)
Nashville Predators (via team release)
D Tanner Molendyk (to Saskatoon, WHL)
New Jersey Devils (via team release)
G Tyler Brennan (to Utica, AHL)
F Filip Engaras (to Utica, AHL)
D Colin Felix (to Utica, AHL)
F Josh Filmon (to Swift Current, WHL)
F T.J. Friedmann (to Utica, AHL)
F Joseph Gambardella (to Utica, AHL)
F Timur Ibragimov (to Utica, AHL)
D Will MacKinnon (to Utica, AHL)
F Xavier Parent (to Utica, AHL)
D Robbie Russo (to Utica, AHL)
F Ryan Schmelzer (to Utica, AHL)
D Topias Vilen (to Utica, AHL)
New York Islanders (via team release)
D Isaiah George (to London, OHL)
F Justin Gill (to Baie-Comeau, QMJHL)
G Tristan Lennox (to Bridgeport, AHL)
D Zsombor Garat (to Bridgeport, AHL)
F Blade Jenkins (to Bridgeport, AHL)
D Artem Kulakov (to Bridgeport, AHL)
G Brent Moran (to Bridgeport, AHL)
F Dmytro Timashov (to Bridgeport, AHL)
F Sam Asselin (to Bridgeport, AHL)
F Cole Bardreau (to Bridgeport, AHL)
F Tanner Fritz (to Bridgeport, AHL)
F Jeff Kubiak (to Bridgeport, AHL)
F Seth Helgeson (to Bridgeport, AHL)
F Ashton Calder (to Bridgeport, AHL)
F Joseph Cipollone (to Bridgeport, AHL)
F Riley Piercey (to Bridgeport, AHL)
F Jake Pivonka (to Bridgeport, AHL)
D Trevor Cosgrove (to Bridgeport, AHL)
D Christian Krygier (to Bridgeport, AHL)
D Vincent Sevigny (to Bridgeport, AHL)
G Henrik Tikkanen (to Bridgeport, AHL)
New York Rangers (via team release)
D Nikolas Brouillard (to Hartford, AHL)
D Adam Clendening (released from PTO)
F Karl Henriksson (to Hartford, AHL)
D Blake Hillman (released from PTO, to Hartford, AHL)
F Ryder Korzcak (to Hartford, AHL)
F Bobby Trivigno (to Hartford, AHL)
Ottawa Senators (via team release)
F Angus Crookshank (to Belleville, AHL)
F Philippe Daoust (to Belleville, AHL)
F Tarun Fizer (released from PTO, to Belleville, AHL)
D Ryan MacKinnon (released from PTO, to Belleville, AHL)
F Graham McPhee (released from PTO, to Belleville, AHL)
G Leevi Merilainen (to Belleville, AHL)
F Brennan Saulnier (released from PTO, to Belleville, AHL)
D Donovan Sebrango (to Belleville, AHL)
G Mark Sinclair (released from PTO, to Belleville, AHL)
D Djibril Touré (to Belleville, AHL)
Philadelphia Flyers (via team release)
F Alexis Gendron (to Lehigh Valley, AHL)
D Adam Karashik (released from PTO, to Lehigh Valley, AHL)
G Nolan Maier (released from PTO, to Lehigh Valley, AHL)
D Mason Millman (to Lehigh Valley, AHL)
D Ethan Samson (to Lehigh Valley, AHL)
F Zayde Wisdom (to Lehigh Valley, AHL)
D Will Zmolek (to Lehigh Valley, AHL)
Pittsburgh Penguins (via team release)
F Jonathan Gruden (to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, AHL)
F Rem Pitlick (to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, AHL)
D Ty Smith (to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, AHL)
D Taylor Fedun (to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, AHL)
D Xavier Ouellet (to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, AHL)
Seattle Kraken (via team release)
G Jack LaFontaine (to Coachella Valley, AHL)
F Jacob Melanson (to Coachella Valley, AHL)
F Logan Morrison (to Coachella Valley, AHL)
F Ville Ottavainen (to Coachella Valley, AHL)
F Tucker Robertson (to Coachella Valley, AHL)
F Ryan Winterton (to Coachella Valley, AHL)
St. Louis Blues (via team release)
F Mikhail Abramov (to Springfield, AHL)
D Jeremie Biakabutuka (to Springfield, AHL)
F Drew Callin (to Springfield, AHL)
G Will Cranley (to Springfield, AHL)
F Tanner Dickinson (to Springfield, AHL)
D Joseph Duszak (to Springfield, AHL)
D Marc-Andre Gaudet (to Springfield, AHL)
F Andre Heim (to Springfield, AHL)
F Mitch Hoelscher (to Springfield, AHL)
D Austin Osmanski (to Springfield, AHL)
F Nick Ritchie (released from PTO)
D Hunter Skinner (to Springfield, AHL)
D Andy Welinski (released from PTO)
G Vadim Zherenko (to Springfield, AHL)
Vegas Golden Knights (per CapFriendly)
F Jakub Brabenec (to Henderson, AHL)
D Daniil Chayka (to Henderson, AHL)
D Lukas Cormier (to Henderson, AHL)
D Christoffer Sedoff (to Henderson, AHL)
G Jesper Vikman (to Henderson, AHL)
Washington Capitals (per team release)
F Andrew Cristall (to Kelowna, WHL)
This page may be updated throughout the day.
Avalanche Notes: Toews, Makar, Holland
Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews is one of the top names headlining the 2024 unrestricted free agent class. The 29-year-old has emerged as a legitimate top-pairing player since being acquired in 2020 and has seen his production take off the last couple of years as he reached the 50-point mark. However, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports in the latest 32 Thoughts podcast (audio link) that the industry thought is that Colorado doesn’t want to give Toews more than five years. If he gets to the open market, it stands to reason that seven-year max-term offers would be on the table while the Avalanche could go as high as eight. A long-term structure like that might allow for the AAV to be a bit lower than a medium-term agreement would be but would also carry some risk in the later years between his workload and age.
More from Colorado:
- Cale Makar skated with the main group at practice today as he works his way back from a lower-body injury, relays Peter Baugh of The Athletic (Twitter link). However, the defenseman stated that while the injury hasn’t gotten any worse, it “hasn’t really gotten much better” With the regular season still two weeks away, it stands to reason that the Avs will take their time with their star blueliner.
- Peter Holland’s tryout appears to have been a somewhat successful one as the team confirmed to Colorado Hockey Now’s Evan Rawal (Twitter link) that they have made the forward a contract offer, one that also includes a reassignment to the AHL level. Whether the offer is a two-way deal with the Avalanche or a one-way AHL proposal remains to be seen. Holland didn’t play anywhere last season and last played at the minor league level back in 2018-19 where he was quite productive with 65 points in 73 games. Colorado shuffled through depth players frequently last season looking for the right fit so even though Holland won’t be making the roster now, he could get an opportunity down the road.
Waivers: 9/29/23
As training camps and the preseason continues, teams continue to trim down their roster to get closer to the final group of players they’ll carry when the regular season gets underway next month. We’ll keep track of the names that hit the waiver wire here. Today’s list was provided by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman (Twitter link).
Colorado Avalanche (per team Twitter)
D Keaton Middleton
F Spencer Smallman
New York Rangers
F Alex Belzile
F Anton Blidh
F Turner Elson
D Ty Emberson
D Connor Mackey
F Riley Nash
New Jersey Devils
St. Louis Blues
The Rangers have the players of some note on this list. Belzile held his own as a midseason recall with Montreal last season, notching six goals and eight assists in just 31 games. That allowed the 32-year-old to get a two-year commitment from New York this summer including a one-way salary in 2024-25. Nash didn’t see any NHL action last season but is no stranger to playing at the top level as a fourth-line center, suiting up 627 times over parts of 11 years. Blidh struggled in limited action with Colorado last season while Elson has just three NHL appearances thus far in his career.
Mackey could be a name to keep an eye on. The 27-year-old split last year between Calgary and Arizona, getting into a career-best 30 games. His performance there also earned him an opportunity to play at the Worlds for Team USA, his second appearance in that tournament over the last three years. This will be Emberson’s first time on waivers. The 23-year-old saw his production in the minors improve considerably last season, going from 11 points to 27 but he still sits fairly low on New York’s depth chart.
As for the other players on waivers today, Gaudette has 218 career NHL appearances under his belt and last season was the first time he didn’t see action at the top level in his six-year professional career. He was a productive scorer in the minors in 2022-23, notching 51 points between the affiliates of the Maple Leafs and Blues, who acquired him at the trade deadline. Wotherspoon last played in the NHL back in 2016-17 with Calgary while Middleton has three NHL games under his belt back in the 2020-21 campaign. Smallman, meanwhile, hasn’t seen any NHL action over his seven professional campaigns and is coming off a career-best 13 goals with AHL Colorado last season.
These players will be on waivers until 1 PM CT on Saturday.