March 26: Wolanin has cleared waivers and can now be assigned to the taxi squad or minor leagues.
March 25: The Ottawa Senators have placed Christian Wolanin on waivers today, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. The team recalled Braydon Coburn from the taxi squad earlier today, suggesting he’ll be in the lineup against the Maple Leafs tonight.
Wolanin, 26, made the Senators roster immediately after signing out of the University of North Dakota in 2018, but hasn’t been able to keep a grip on that spot in the years since. With just 58 games of NHL experience, he is heading towards an offseason where he will become a Group VI unrestricted free agent. That is unless he plays 22 games down the stretch, something that would require quite a bit of luck given the Senators only have 21 remaining. If he were claimed and quickly forced through the quarantine protocols it is possible, but very unlikely at this point.
The fact that the Senators allowed him to reach that status in the first place is puzzling, given how little they are playing for this season. The team is not in contention for a playoff spot and are basically letting an asset reach free agency unnecessarily. Still, perhaps they were not planning on giving Wolanin a qualifying offer anyway as he comes off a season where he is earning $1MM on a one-way deal.
The 6’2″ defenseman has never been mistaken for a top-pairing player, but he does have the ability to fit into an NHL lineup in a depth role. Given there is no commitment past this season he could potentially be claimed, though skaters have passed through waivers unscathed routinely this year.
TRADE
Don’t forget to post this trade team hockey rumors!
To Anaheim Ducks
F Alex Volkov
To Tampa Bay Lightning
F Antoine Morand
2023 7th round pick
I’m not sure exactly what happened here, it didn’t publish properly. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
I think it’s safe to say that Wolanin hasn’t lived up to his potential but to waive him when Coburn and Gudbranson are on the roster is just bad asset management.
Man, that’s exactly what ran through my head when I read that headline.
Me too.
@Gavin – “waives”
waivers*
@windmill_noise_causes_cancer – We’re not putting @Gavin on waivers. He just had a bad shift and caught a small rut, but he’ll be back on the top line after a bit of work with the equipment guy.