May 30: Hayden has cleared waivers and can join Coachella for their series, which continues on Thursday. The team has now officially assigned him to the AHL.
May 29: In a move with very unusual timing, the Seattle Kraken have placed forward John Hayden on waivers, per CapFriendly, likely to assign him to their AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
The Firebirds are alive and well in their pursuit of the Calder Cup, up 2-0 in their Western Conference Final series against the Milwaukee Admirals. Hayden, who had 33 points in 47 games with them this season, needs waivers to return for the remainder of their playoff run.
The timing remains mysterious, as Hayden had remained on Seattle’s active roster after their postseason ended days ago. Seattle placed Jesper Frödén on waivers earlier in the month to return him to Coachella Valley after their elimination, but Hayden has remained on the Kraken roster, not able to play in the minors.
The 28-year-old grinding winger is a pending unrestricted free agent after signing a one-year deal in free agency with the Kraken last offseason. He played seven NHL games this season, scoring twice.
John Hayden had been injured which is why he wasn’t placed on waivers sooner.
Hayden must have been cleared to return hence the waiver placement and eventual return to the AHL’s CV Firebirds, if no claim is made.
Ah… hadn’t come across that when writing. That would certainly explain it
And they’re certainly expecting him to clear; the Firebirds released a player from a PTO.
He got into a fight down the reg season stretch. I went to take a leak when it happened, but my wife told me his leg bent out from under him and he’s been out since then.
Reminiscent of Bret Hart breaking Vince McMahons ankle by pumching him in the face.