According to TSN’s Chris Johnston, the Nashville Predators have placed former top prospect Eeli Tolvanen on waivers this afternoon. While the merits of putting the once-elite prospect on waivers could be debated, the move is also interesting in that it comes roughly an hour after the team learned it would be losing forward Michael McCarron for an indefinite period of time as he enters the Players Assistance Program. No corresponding move related to either player, has been announced at this point.
The 30th overall selection in 2017 by Nashville, Tolvanen quickly became one of the game’s more exciting prospects in short order. Considered a pure sniper, the winger was expected to change the face of Nashville’s offense and add a compliment to already-established stars like Filip Forsberg, Matt Duchene, and Ryan Johansen. Now 23, Tolvanen hasn’t exactly been a bad NHLer, but hasn’t lived up to the hype that had been surrounding him when he came into the league. This season, the forward has four points, two goals and two assists, in 13 games. For his 135 game NHL career, he has 25 goals and 26 assists.
Seeing a player with Tolvanen’s career path hit waivers surely isn’t unprecedented, however some may argue that the decision feels a bit soon, given his age and especially his track record of performance at the NHL level. In other words, though he’s not the player many were hoping for, he has shown he can certainly play at this level and at 23, there could be room to grow from it. Tolvanen’s placement does feel similar to the New York Islanders waiving of Kieffer Bellows earlier this year. Once one of their top prospects, Bellows put up 19 points in 45 games last season, then after suiting up for one game with the Islanders in 2022-23, was placed on waivers, claimed by the Philadelphia Flyers.
He will be claimed in a heart beat
Hynes and Poile masterclass
Wondering if this could be an option for the Devils… Didn’t expect to be claiming off waivers after the start they’ve had but they need scoring depth with Holtz not ready… perhaps Tolvanen can slide into the 3rd line if injuries persist and then be waived later in the year if needed.
I’d be shocked if he made it to them
I think you’re right JD to be sure but I’d prob be putting in a claim if I’m Fitzy. I’d say a bunch of teams will be sniffing this one, he’ll probably land with a bottom 10 team.
Not sure if the Preds ruined him or if he’s a Sprong type who just doesn’t have the fire, BUT…
I wanted this guy so much during that draft. Got picked one slot ahead of PGH. Best release I’ve seen since Brett Hull. Just looking at the stat sheet, he piles up hits, too.
I have to think he can upgrade Danton Heinan. Put in a claim, Hextall.
He isn’t ruined he has been in Hynes doghouse because the coach doesn’t know how to use a fine player
The Penguins claim him? They don’t have enough cap space to claim a bag of pucks. You can’t just drop Heinen and the cap space magically disappears. This is the price for keeping the band together. That’s ok but their ability to make moves is limited.
Never know who you were getting. Spring, Sprong or Sprung
And in Pittsburgh he would have actual top 6 centers feeding him the puck. No such center exists in Nashville.
Too much talent to go unclaimed. I would imagine at least a dozen teams will be interested. The Predators botched his development big time.
time to really give the finger to Hynes and Poile another FAILED Draft pick… Tolvanens underlying numbers last year were very solid compared to the rest of the team… but then they decided cole smith is a way better overall player… lmao Hynes is a terrible coach for developing young talent… awful!
Yeah, the guy is a draft bust. But most draft picks DON’T turn into stars. Tolvanen was the 30th pick. Donovan Voigt, want to guess how many people picked AFTER Tolvanen have outscored him so far? THREE guys out of nearly two hundred picked. How thrilled would you be if Nashville had picked Kole Lind or Isaac Ratcliffe or Jaret Anderson-Dolan or Klim Kostin instead?
(Come to that, only about a dozen picked BEFORE him have clearly outscored him. We’re talking a first round full of Cody Glasses and Lias Anderssons and Callan Footes and Erik Brannstroms and Kristian Vesalainens. No one’s going to mistake the 2017 draft for the 1979 draft.)
What doesn’t make a lot of sense to me is this move. The Preds aren’t in dire need of the cap space. Tolvanen isn’t hugely overpaid for what he’s contributing, which is okay bottom-six level. If he hadn’t missed half the season so far, his numbers pro-rate to being 7th in team scoring. If this level of play is all he is, then that’s not too bad.
exactly I just don’t get what the reasoning or timing of this move was made for just seems to me like terrible asset management by the Preds
The Ducks or the Blackhawks will claim him.
I don’t know how he gets past ARI or ANA – even VAN should be all over this reclamation project…
This. I pray he falls to Van!
He will get claimed but is there more that meets the eye ….with this player..could be a bust with new team as well but worth the shot …if he gets by the ducks then for sure the Blackhawks will claim him..then if not them for sure Columbus….Arizona is 4th.. I sure it goes by current standings of last place then upwards….
A Christmas present for the Ducks! How generous! Goodbye Jayson Megna!
If still available I could see the Avalanche taking a chance considering the number of current injuries and AHL players on the active roster.
“Tolvanen signed a three-year contract with Nashville over the 2021 offseason worth $4.3 million. He’s eligible to be an RFA after the 2023-24 season.” via Predlines
Sounds like there are some issues that aren’t being disclosed.
Preds can’t score, so they give away a sniper. Sums up David Poile in one sentence.
How Poile still has a job is bewildering. Mediocrity is his goal, which explains why Hynes is the coach.