25 Players Clear Waivers
October 3: The New Jersey Devils claimed Mason Geertsen on waivers, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. All other players cleared.
October 2: As expected, it’s another busy day on the waiver wire today as Chris Johnston of the Toronto Star and TSN reports (Twitter link) that the following 26 players have been placed on waivers:
F Cavan Fitzgerald (CAR)
F Maxim Letunov (CAR)
F Sam Miletic (CAR)
F Andrew Poturalski (CAR)
F Spencer Smallman (CAR)
F Brayden Burke (LA)
D Kale Clague (LA)
F Martin Frk (LA)
D Jacob Moverare (LA)
G Garret Sparks (LA)
F T.J. Tynan (LA)
F Lukas Vejdemo (MTL)
D Mason Geertsen (NYR)
G Antoine Bibeau (SEA)
D Connor Carrick (SEA)
D Cale Fleury (SEA)
D Gustav Olofsson (SEA)
F Tanner Kaspick (STL)
F Matthew Peca (STL)
F Nolan Stevens (STL)
G Maxime Lagace (TB)
C Otto Somppi (TB)
D Daniel Walcott (TB)
F Shane Gersich (WSH)
D Lucas Johansen (WSH)
D Dylan McIlrath (WSH)
A pair of young defensemen stand out among the long list of those available. Clague played in 18 games with the Kings last season, recording six assists while logging over 17 minutes a night. A productive scorer in junior, the 2015 second-rounder hasn’t been able to lock down a regular roster spot in the NHL yet but at 23, it wouldn’t be surprising if a team took a chance on him. Fleury was selected from Montreal in expansion by the Kraken and while he didn’t see any NHL action last season, he played in 41 games with the Canadiens in 2019-20 on their third pairing. With Montreal losing Sami Niku to a concussion on Friday night, they might be interested in a reunion.
Up front, Frk has had some success in limited NHL opportunities, notching six goals in 17 games with the Kings in 2019-20 and had a 25-point season with Detroit in 2017-18. Poturalski led the AHL in scoring last season with 43 points in 44 games with AHL San Diego and had 70-point campaign with Charlotte in 2018-19.
Teams will have until 1 PM CT on Sunday to place a claim on any of these players.
Los Angeles Kings Sign Kale Clague
The Los Angeles Kings have reached an agreement with restricted free agent defenseman Kale Clague, signing him to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will carry an average annual value of $761,250, the same number as his qualifying offer this year.
Clague, 23, was a second-round pick of the Kings in 2016, and played 18 games for the team this season. He registered six assists in those appearances by moving the puck quickly and accurately but is still looking for his first NHL goal. That could come this season if the Kings give Clague a chance to play regularly, but it’s not goal-scoring that will ever be the biggest part of his offensive contribution. Instead, it’s all about creating neutral zone turnovers and sending his teammates on a counter-attack for Clague, who relies on a quick stick defensively more than physicality.
Whether he can crack the NHL lineup on a full-time basis is still to be determined though, especially after the Kings brought in Alexander Edler in free agency. The team now has a long list of contenders for playing time, with Clague’s two-way contract likely not helping his case. One thing in his favor though? The fact that the young defenseman is now eligible for waivers, something that Tobias Bjornfot cannot claim. It’s unlikely that he would clear once the season begins, meaning if the Kings intend on slipping him through it might have to be during training camp when teams are less inclined to add to the roster.
This is an important season for Clague, who will be arbitration-eligible next summer and looking for his first one-way deal.
This article previously referenced a Kings’ press release that had Clague signing a two-year deal.