Author: Bradley Keith

As the 2025-26 season winds down, it’s time to look back on waiver claims throughout the year. Whether off-the-radar players who broke out, veterans who filled roles, or young prospects with unrealized talent, how did waiver pickups pan out? What comes next for the respective players, and are there any regrets?

First, Carolina’s Brandon Bussi is in a class of his own. If there were to be an award for “Waiver Claim of the Year”, the goaltender would bring it home. Of course, there’s no such honors at the NHL Awards this June, but 2025-26 has been a season the undrafted 27-year-old will never forget. Bussi had an impressive tenure with the Providence Bruins from 2022-25 but never was able to crack the NHL. Finding his way to Raleigh was a surprise, with the presence of Pyotr Kochetkov behind Frederik Andersen. Bussi took full advantage of Kochetkov’s absence, posting an insane 31-6-2 record despite an .890 save percentage. It’s no secret that he benefited from the strong team in front, but Bussi’s 2.52 goals against average came in well below the league’s average 2.88 mark. Having earned a three year extension worth $1.9MM per year, he is on track to be one of the more successful waiver claims in recent memory.

In terms of veteran skaters, Troy Stecher had a successful turnaround after his November shift from Edmonton to Toronto as a short-term Chris Tanev replacement. In typical subtle Stecher manner, the 32-year-old immediately brought stability, as he played 19:46 a night, the most since his 2018-19 season. Starting 57% of his shifts in the defensive zone, it was a tough workload, but the dependable veteran was up for the challenge. By early March, there was a trade market for Stecher, although not enough for a deal as he played out the disappointing spring in Toronto. With a defense core mostly locked up, and changes on the horizon, Stecher is expected hit the market on July 1, but his Maple Leafs tenure should bring an increase in job security, even if elsewhere.

Luke Glendening, effectively a free trade deadline acquisition, packed his bags for Philadelphia in March after a PTO with the Devils led to a limited role, the lowest ice time of his career. The 37-year-old found a home on the Flyers’ fourth line, a top penalty killer playing nearly three minutes more per game. The efforts helped Philadelphia not only make the playoffs, but advance to the second round. They went out quietly, as Carolina completed the sweep yesterday, but few could have predicted the Flyers to be playing into May, with the longtime Red Wing as a contributor, no less. As long as Glendening wants to extend his career the phone should ring in July. It’s a real improvement from his status a short time ago.

Tyson Jost, claimed by Nashville in October after failing to make the Hurricanes roster, has become a journeyman after his 10th overall selection by Colorado in 2016. Despite being a native of Alberta, Jost grew up with an affinity for the Predators, as family friends of Scott Hartnell, wearing #17 as a tribute. He skated in 69 games for the Predators as a utility player, useful later in the year when the club had dealt away pieces from their bottom six. With 16 points, the 28-year-old’s stock is effectively the same, and it is likely he’ll be looking for his sixth club this summer.

Former Detroit standout Robby Fabbri was relinquished in March after an unsuccessful second stint with his first club, St. Louis, and moving on to the Wild. The former top prospect only managed to get into 15 games back on the Blues, but it was an upgrade after starting in the AHL. Minnesota replaced Tyler Pitlick with Fabbri as a depth forward. Fabbri made six appearances with the club, averaging 9:51 a night, and scoring a goal in their regular season finale. A scratch ever since, the 30-year-old is enjoying being along for the ride during the Wild’s playoff run, in what very well could be the final chapter of his 463 game NHL career, highlighted by a Stanley Cup in 2019.

Moving along, the next category is younger players with upside, claims which always attract attention.

Jonatan Berggren was this season’s classic case of a high skill forward burning out and hitting the wire. Despite playing 75 games in 2024-25, the Swede’s inconsistency and defensive lapses doomed him in Detroit. Claimed by St. Louis in need of bodies up front, Berggren made the most of his expanded role, playing over 14 minutes a night, more than anything he’d seen in Detroit. The 25-year-old put up his best even strength possession metrics as a pro, starting 56.8% of his work in the offensive zone. Improved underlying numbers aside, the 5’11” winger recorded 16 points in 36 games. A successful claim who provided a spark offensively, Berggren should have a place with the Blues next year, although they’ll need to sort out Jonathan Drouin‘s future, the 31-year-old redundant with the young former Wing.

Next, defenseman Daemon Hunt has had an interesting past, a Wild prospect who broke through two years ago but was moved to Columbus in the David Jiříček trade. Hunt was unable to play in a single game with the Jackets, not making the team, and ending up back where he started. Minnesota has had no problem utilizing the 6’1″ lefty, skating in 32 games and even getting minutes in the playoffs against Colorado. The Manitoba native has a third-pairing ceiling, nothing which will keep Columbus up at night, but the Wild were happy to welcome back their 2020 third round selection.

John Beecher and Tye Kartye both came in to their new clubs as 25-year-old bottom six forward depth, although Kartye is an undrafted late bloomer, while Beecher is a former first round pick, now fully embracing a grinder role.

First with Beecher, naturally there was optimism from Calgary fans after their team picked up the former notable Boston prospect in November. At the time they had the top spot on the waiver wire, so the 6’3″ center wasn’t up for grabs for long. Beecher’s role in Calgary was limited to fourth line duty, playing 10:26 a night and posting six points in 29 games. With serious speed for a player in his build, and centers in as high demand as ever, the Flames have nothing to lose by retaining the Elmira, New York native. If so, they’d hope to mold Beecher into a Michael McCarron/Ty Dellandrea sort of former first-rounder turned bottom-six specialist.

As for Kartye, his role in Seattle as a fourth liner slipped until he was claimed by the Rangers in February. A high energy forechecker, they were happy to take a chance on the 5’11” lefty with a season off the rails. Kartye enjoyed a nice bump to the highest ice time of his career (14:04) where he nearly doubled his point totals on the campaign in just 24 games with New York. Signed through next season, there’s a spot at the table as a useful piece in the Big Apple as the team works through their retool.

Donovan Sebrango, claimed back in October, quietly was a steady presence for the defending champions in what was a lost season. Joining the Panthers after just four NHL games under his belt in Ottawa, the 24-year-old defenseman played in 40 games and put up eight points. A third round pick by Detroit six years ago, Sebrango was dealt to his hometown Senators in the Alex DeBrincat trade, working his way from the ECHL before falling out of favor in the organization. After his consistent play down south, being the youngest defenseman among Florida’s top six by five years, Sebrango is looking like another sneaky pick up from shrewd general manager Bill Zito.

Goaltender Colten Ellis, brought in by Buffalo from St. Louis, played in 16 games, his first NHL action, winning eight and coming away with a .903 save percentage, above the league average of .896. The work led the Sabres to carry three goaltenders all year, leaving top prospect Devon Levi as #4 on the totem pole. Rolling along in the playoffs on the backs of Alex Lyon and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Ellis’ youth has value, just 25, as the team will weigh their options this summer. 

Cole Schwindt and Cole Reinhardt have more in common than names alone, as the forwards both found themselves picked up by Florida from Vegas at different parts of the year. Schwindt, claimed in October, scored five goals in 29 games in his second stint with Florida. At 6’3″ he is a fourth line center who will hit the market this summer. Meanwhile, Reinhardt was picked up and soon provided a late season spark for the Cats, netting six goals in just 15 games. A small sample size, he’s signed through next year and could be a savvy replacement for A.J. Greer, perhaps becoming the next surprising depth scorer for the team.

Honorable mentions:

Jack Finley, waived by Tampa Bay during the Olympic Break and scooped up by St. Louis, replaced Nick Bjugstad on their roster. It was a nice homecoming for the local product, son of former Blue Jeff Finley. In 22 games back home, the former Lightning second round pick had just two assists, but at 6’6″, scoring will never be too high in his job description. Still just 23, and inked through 2027-28, Finley has untapped potential as a bottom-sixer.

Curtis Douglas, a 26-year-old enforcer, deserves props for cracking the NHL this year after several seasons in the AHL. The 6’9″ winger was actually claimed twice, first by Tampa Bay from Utah to start the year, then landing with Vancouver to help protect their youth through a tough spring. Douglas is a free agent at season’s end, and his market will be interesting with players in his skill-set a dying art.

Vincent Iorio, claimed by the Rangers from San Jose in January, skated in six games for New York. The 23-year-old defenseman will be a restricted free agent, where he’ll look to stick around as a third-pairing hopeful, standing at 6’4″. Iorio, a former Capitals second round selection, has the distinction of being the youngest of the group, just below Finley.

Image Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images (Stecher)

Image Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images (Berggren)