The Vegas Golden Knights have claimed blueliner Tobias Björnfot off of waivers, the team has announced. In addition, forward Grigori Denisenko and defenseman Lukas Cormier have been recalled from the team’s AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights.
This claim of Björnfot ends the defenseman’s time in Los Angeles, at least for the time being. The Kings will have the chance to re-claim Björnfot should he find himself on waivers again this season (just as the Ottawa Senators claimed Lassi Thomson earlier this season after he was originally nabbed by the Anaheim Ducks) but for now he’s off to Nevada.
The 22-year-old was selected 22nd overall by the Kings in 2019, and although he made a name for himself in North America rather quickly, his development never quite took off. The six-foot-one Swedish blueliner plays a solid defensive game and is capable of logging heavy minutes at the AHL level. He’s been more of a bottom-pairing defenseman at the NHL level,
Since Vegas is currently dealing with quite a few injuries to their defense, Björnfot figures to slot into the team’s seventh defenseman role.
The recalls of Cormier and Denisenko place both players in a position to potentially make their Golden Knights debuts. Denisenko, 23, was a waiver claim by Vegas earlier this season and already has 26 games on his NHL resume, exclusively coming during his time with the Florida Panthers. He’s done really well in the AHL so far this season, leading Henderson in scoring with 30 points in 31 games.
As for Cormier, the 21-year-old 2020 third-round pick hasn’t yet played in the NHL. He had a solid start to his pro career last season when he registered 35 points in his rookie AHL campaign, and he’s followed that up with a healthy 12 points in 27 games this season.
Not surprised Bjornfot gets picked up but Vegas has a logjam of blue liners currently. Nine Golden Knights defenders have played at least on game this year and Miromanov has been injured.
Honestly, surprised no other team claimed him. I guess any team that is rumored to need a defenseman is going to look really stupid if Vegas can turn this former 1st rd pick into something legit
When healthy the Knights now have 11 defenders they can play. Solid depth for the playoffs.
I’m surprised too. I wonder if Vegas was surprised he made it as far as the 27th chance on the waiver wire.
Too small to play for Vegas’ D.