The Colorado Avalanche placed forward Chris Wagner on waivers today (as per CapFriendly) after he was called up from the AHL just three days ago. The 32-year-old played 13 NHL games with Colorado this season as he split time between the Avalanche and the Colorado Eagles of the AHL. Wagner served as Colorado’s healthy scratch for Game 1 of their first-round series against the Jets. and will serve in the same capacity for Game 2 despite being on waivers.
Wagner signed a two-way contract with Colorado on July 1st of last year and proved to be a decent call-up option for the Avalanche, filling in during absences and injuries. In 21 AHL games this season, Wagner posted eight goals and six assists while he registered a goal and an assist in the NHL with the Avalanche. He averaged just 7:27 of ice time in his limited NHL action while posting a +3 rating.
The native of Walpole, Massachusetts, hasn’t been a full-time NHLer since the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season with the Bruins when he played in 41 games and tallied two goals and three assists. That season was the first year of an ill-advised three-year $4.05MM extension in Boston, as Wagner would spend the final two seasons of that contract playing in the AHL with the Providence Bruins.
In 373 career NHL games, Wagner has posted 38 goals and 27 assists, along with a -24 rating and a 204 PIM. His best NHL season came in 2018-19 with the Bruins when Wagner put up 12 goals and seven assists in 76 games.
Waive the Wanger
What was the point of this move?