Blue Jackets Claim Spencer Martin Off Waivers From Canucks
The Blue Jackets have added some depth between the pipes as Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports (Twitter link) that they’ve claimed goaltender Spencer Martin off waivers from the Canucks.
Martin came into last season as the backup in Vancouver following a strong showing with their AHL affiliate in Abbotsford in 2021-22 plus an impressive six-game effort with the Canucks that saw him post a .950 SV%. However, the 28-year-old wasn’t able to come anywhere close to duplicating that success as he posted a 3.99 GAA along with a SV% of just .871 in 29 games with the Canucks before eventually clearing waivers in mid-February. He was much better on the farm, however, putting up a 2.43 GAA with a .916 SV% in 16 appearances down the stretch.
That gave Martin the presumptive edge to be Thatcher Demko‘s backup again this season. However, those plans changed quickly when Vancouver acquired Casey DeSmith from Montreal earlier this month, a move that pushed Martin to the waiver wire. His removal from the roster should give prospect Nikita Tolopilo, a free agent signing back in March, a spot in Abbotsford’s tandem with Arturs Silovs.
Columbus had plenty of struggles of their own between the pipes last season with Elvis Merzlikins having a year to forget and youngster Daniil Tarasov taking a step back as well. Tarasov is currently dealing with a knee injury and has yet to take part in training camp, creating the opening for Martin to step into as Merzlikins’ backup for the time being. Martin is in the final season of a two-year contract worth the league minimum in both seasons, meaning his cap hit of $762.5K actually checks in below the $775K minimum salary.
All other players that were on waivers yesterday cleared, per Friedman.
Waivers: 09/28/23
As training camps and the preseason continues, teams are trimming down their roster and getting closer to the final group of players they’ll bring into opening night. We’ll keep track of the names that hit the waiver wire here. Today’s list comes courtesy of CapFriendly.
Colorado Avalanche
Pittsburgh Penguins
F Jonathan Gruden
F Rem Pitlick
D Ty Smith
D Taylor Fedun
D Xavier Ouellet
Vancouver Canucks
Smith is the biggest name here is Smith. Smith was a 2018 first-round pick of the New Jersey Devils and became a star WHL blueliner for the Spokane Chiefs. He turned pro in 2020-21, scoring 23 points in 48 games. That performance landed him on the NHL’s All-Rookie team, as well as some down-ballot Calder Trophy votes.
The Devils dealt Smith and a third-round pick to the Penguins in exchange for John Marino, who went on to have a stellar 2022-23 season. Smith, on the other hand, played in only nine NHL game for the Penguins. He spent most of last season in the AHL, scoring 24 points in 39 games, and now the AHL is where he’ll be once again assuming he can clear waivers.
Given the promise Smith showed earlier in his career and his pedigree as a former top prospect, it would not be shocking whatsoever to see a team put a claim in on Smith, who is playing on a one-year, league-minimum cap-hit.
In terms of the other names on the waiver wire, Martin’s placement comes as no surprise after the Canucks’ acquisition of Casey DeSmith from the Montreal Canadiens. Martin posted a dreadful .871 save percentage in the NHL last season, but fared far better in the AHL. The Canucks will hope he’ll clear waivers so he can provide quality goaltending alongside prospect goalie Artūrs Šilovs in AHL Abbotsford.
Another recognizable name on the waiver wire is that of Rem Pitlick. Pitlick scored 37 points in 2021-22 on the Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators, but struggled in 2022-23. He was dealt to Pittsburgh by Montreal as part of the Erik Karlsson trade with the hope, from Pitlick’s perspective, that the Penguins would provide a solid change-of-scenery NHL opportunity.
He now finds himself on the waiver wire, though, and his $1.1MM cap hit could be a barrier towards another team putting in a claim. The versatile forward scored at an above-point-per-game rate in the AHL last season, and could end up an impact player for AHL Wilkes-Barre Scranton.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Vancouver Canucks Expected To Waive Spencer Martin
The Vancouver Canucks are expected to place goaltender Spencer Martin on waivers today unless a trade materializes in the next few hours, reports Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Martin, a candidate to compete for the backup job behind Thatcher Demko just a few weeks ago, was pushed down the team’s depth chart after the Canucks acquired Casey DeSmith in a trade with Montreal last week.
Even without acquiring DeSmith, the path to a roster spot in Vancouver for Martin wasn’t solid. After falling flat in his first shot at full-time NHL duties last season, many speculated that 22-year-old netminder Arturs Silovs may get the backup spot to start the season after a strong showing at the World Championship, guiding Latvia to a bronze medal. With DeSmith now in the fold, however, that point is moot, and both netminders are slated for AHL Abbotsford to start the season.
However, sending both netminders down will make for quite the crowded crease in Abbotsford. Vancouver also has Zach Sawchenko and Nikita Tolopilo signed to two-way contracts, plus 22-year-old Jonathan Lemieux is signed to an AHL contract for 2023-24. Lemieux is likely destined for assignment to ECHL Kalamazoo, but that would still leave four goalies competing for ice time at the AHL level. It’s clear why Vancouver would look to move on from Martin, the most veteran of the bunch at 28 years old.
Martin had been an AHL netminder for all of his pro career up until last season. A six-game stint near the end of 2021-22 with Vancouver earned him the upper hand on capturing the backup spot behind Demko to start 2022-23, going 3-0-3 in six starts with a sparkling .950 save percentage and 1.74 goals-against average. However, that momentum failed to translate when Martin did assume the backup role. He was arguably one of the worst netminders in the NHL last season – while his 11-15-1 record in 27 starts wasn’t awful, his .871 save percentage and 3.99 goals-against average fell far below the league average. To visualize it better, Martin conceded 27.5 more goals than the average NHL netminder would have given the same workload and shot volume.
That being said, he could still get some interest on the trade market from teams looking to fill a third-string-shaped hole on their goalie depth chart. The Columbus Blue Jackets come to mind with few options behind Elvis Merzlikins and Daniil Tarasov, both of whom have recent injury histories. 130-game NHL veteran Aaron Dell is in camp on a professional tryout, however.
Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, Spencer Martin Clear Waivers
Feb 14: Both players have cleared and can be assigned to the minor leagues.
Feb 13: According to Winnipeg Jets head coach Rick Bowness, who spoke with reporters including Scott Billeck of the Winnipeg Sun, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby has been placed on waivers today. The club needed room for the return of Dylan DeMelo and is “selfishly” hoping that Jonsson-Fjallby clears and can stay with the organization.
He isn’t alone. Spencer Martin has also been placed on waivers by the Vancouver Canucks, suggesting that Thatcher Demko will soon return from injury.
It’s a significant fall for Martin, who signed a two-year, one-way contract with the Canucks in April to serve as the team’s primary backup. At the time, it seemed rather undeserved given he had only played in nine NHL games, but the Canucks were confident in his ability to play at the highest level after posting a .950 save percentage in his short time with them.
Unfortunately, he’s come nowhere near that number this season, with an .871 through 29 appearances. The goaltending in Vancouver has been rather dreadful, even if their defensive performance has hung netminders out to dry far too often.
The move essentially signals that Collin Delia has passed him on the depth chart, and will remain as the backup for Demko moving forward.
For Jonsson-Fjallby, this could potentially lead to another fresh start somewhere else. Not only do the Washington Capitals have the option of re-claiming him and sending him directly to the minor leagues if they are the only team interested, but his play could draw the gaze of some other teams looking for depth forwards. Through 45 games with Winnipeg, the 25-year-old has four goals and 11 points, routinely showing off his speed to get in on the forecheck.
He won’t be a top-six impact player, but could be of interest for clubs looking to add penalty killing and energy to a fourth line.
Vancouver Canucks Recall Collin Delia
For the last few days, the Vancouver Canucks have been swapping Arturs Silovs and Collin Delia back and forth in order to keep both fresh. That continued today with Silovs heading back to the AHL and Delia recalled under emergency conditions.
With Thatcher Demko out since the start of December, the Canucks have been relying heavily on Spencer Martin to carry the load. Delia did get one game at the NHL level a few weeks ago but otherwise, the swaps continue to allow him to stay sharp by playing in the AHL.
Of course, Martin hasn’t been very good for the Canucks, posting an .885 save percentage behind a leaky defensive unit. In each of his last two starts – losses to the St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets – he has allowed five goals on 27 shots. With the Canucks set to start a back-to-back tonight against the Seattle Kraken, before traveling to Edmonton to face Connor McDavid and the Oilers tomorrow night, Delia might get another chance to play.
After that, the team doesn’t have another back-to-back until January 14-15, meaning Martin will likely continue to start every game until Demko returns.
Tucker Poolman Placed On LTIR; Arturs Silovs Recalled
The Vancouver Canucks are not technically eliminated from the postseason. When Timo Meier scored with 0.9 seconds left for the San Jose Sharks, who then went on to win in a shootout against the Vegas Golden Knights, the slimmest sliver of hope was saved for the Canucks. If they win out, the Golden Knights beat the Dallas Stars tonight and then both of those teams lose the rest of the way, the Canucks would get in on a complicated tie-breaker. It’s not much, but it’s hope.
Unfortunately, it appears they’ll have to do their part without Thatcher Demko, at least for tonight. The team has moved Tucker Poolman to long-term injured reserve in order to recall Arturs Silovs from the minor leagues. Silovs is expected to serve as the backup for Spencer Martin tonight, as Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK TV tweets that Demko is dealing with an undisclosed injury.
The 21-year-old Silovs has never played a game at the NHL level and has just 11 appearances in the AHL, not many of which have gone very well. He’s spent more than half of this season with the ECHL’s Trois-Rivieres Lions, where he has a .920 save percentage in ten appearances.
Poolman, meanwhile, has played in just one game since January and lasted just seven shifts. The 28-year-old defenseman was signed to an inexplicable four-year contract in the offseason and averaged 17 minutes a night through the first half of the season, recording three points in 40 games overall. His first year with the Canucks has certainly not gone to plan, and the team has been much better without him on the ice (though he hasn’t had much of a chance to play for head coach Bruce Boudreau, who turned the team around and has them this close to the playoffs).
For Martin, it is a bit of a showcase for next season, when he figures to be the regular backup for Demko at the NHL level. The 26-year-old netminder signed a new two-year, one-way contract extension earlier this month and Jaroslav Halak‘s deal will expire at the end of the season. With Michael DiPietro likely needing more time in the minor leagues before he really pushes for an NHL opportunity, it’s likely Demko-Martin for 2022-23, unless the team acquires another option in net. So far, so good, as Martin had a .958 save percentage in three appearances earlier this season.
Vancouver Canucks Extend Spencer Martin
April 8: Martin has indeed signed a one-way contract, and a two-year deal at that. The team announced the contract today, with general manager Patrik Allvin releasing the following statement:
We’re pleased with the success Spencer has had this season, not only in the American Hockey League but also during his stint with Vancouver earlier this year. He has been very reliable for Abbotsford, contributing greatly to their Calder Cup Playoff berth earlier this month, and has shown an ability to perform in high-pressure situations.
Dhaliwal reports that the deal will carry the league minimum of $750K in 2022-23 and $775K in 2023-24.
April 7: For three games in January, the Vancouver Canucks were forced to rely on minor league journeyman Spencer Martin in net. All he did in those games was stop 113 of 118 shots, including a 47-save performance to secure a point in overtime against the Edmonton Oilers. Now, he may end up with his reward. Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK TV reports that the Canucks are discussing a new contract with Martin, who could become an unrestricted free agent this summer, and that the expectation is it would be a one-way deal.
Martin, 26, was a third-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche in 2013, but has bounced around the minor leagues without a lot of extended success. He’s played for the Fort Wayne Komets, San Antonio Rampage, Colorado Eagles, Orlando Solar Bears, and Syracuse Crunch before reaching the Canucks, only ever entering three NHL games back in 2016-17.
Last year, he signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning and then was traded just a few months later for nothing more than future considerations. That move has proved a savvy one for the Canucks, who not only received those three NHL performances, but also a goaltender that has put up a 17-4-2 record in the minor leagues with Abbotsford.
The Canucks, meanwhile, have received inconsistent backup play from Jaroslav Halak, who is also a pending unrestricted free agent and will turn 37 next month. A potential extension for Martin could put him in line to be the regular NHL backup next season, or at very worst a strong third-string option. If he does earn a one-way contract, it will be for the first time in his career.
J.T. Miller Removed From Protocol As Trade Rumors Swirl
There has been a lot of speculation about J.T. Miller‘s future over the last few days and during that time he wasn’t even with the Canucks. Miller was placed in isolation after a positive COVID test five days ago, but has now rejoined his teammates after exiting the protocol. He was on the ice for Vancouver today and based on jersey color, Thomas Drance of The Athletic tweets that it looks like he’ll be reunited with Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson on the “Lotto Line” for tonight’s game against the Edmonton Oilers.
Miller, 28, hasn’t played in a week, but every time he does step on the ice for Vancouver this season he only improves his trade value. With 39 points through 39 games, he’s on pace for his best offensive season yet and the second point-per-game campaign since arriving in Vancouver in 2019. The veteran forward has been linked to the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, and Minnesota Wild in recent days, with Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff discussing his future again today:
I think the Rangers stand out a bit as the team that has been ‘next level’ in terms of interest. They have a fit there, he knows what it’s like, he’s comfortable with the organization having already played there. That makes sense.
It’s not just a simple rental in the case of Miller either, as his contract extends through next season at a reasonable $5.25MM cap hit. He does not hold any trade protection, as the Canucks voided the modified no-trade clause that was originally included in the contract when he signed it with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Because the clause had not kicked in yet, Vancouver was allowed to do so after acquiring him in trade.
The Canucks made a few other moves today as well. Spencer Martin has been cleared to play again, after he too was put in the protocol just two days ago. He at least will give Vancouver another professional goaltender until Thatcher Demko and Jaroslav Halak exit the protocol. The team played with an emergency backup on Sunday, giving Michael DiPietro the start. The team has also recalled Ashton Sautner to the taxi squad while moving Sheldon Dries to the taxi squad in order to open a spot for Miller.
Unfortunately, Tanner Pearson tested positive this morning according to Ben Kuzma of Postmedia, and the Canucks have now officially announced that he is in the protocol. He’ll be unavailable for the team tonight.
Canucks Add Spencer Martin To COVID Protocol, Will Have Emergency Backup
Vancouver Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau confirmed today that goaltender Spencer Martin entered COVID protocol and goalie Arturs Silovs tested positive for COVID.
With Thatcher Demko and Jaroslav Halak already on the protocol list, the Canucks only have Michael DiPietro left under contract and healthy. The Athletic’s Thomas Drance says it’s “very likely” that longtime University of British Columbia goaltender Rylan Toth will serve as the team’s emergency backup goalie today against St. Louis.
Toth, a fifth-year netminder for UBC, has a .935 save percentage and four shutouts en route to a 10-2-1 record this season. The 25-year-old Saskatoon native is certainly enjoying the best season of his career, although sitting on an NHL bench for a game will certainly be a highlight.
Starting in goal tonight will be DiPietro, who has a 4-7-3 record and .896 save percentage with the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks this year. It will be his third NHL game, seeing game action in 2018-19 and 2019-20.
COVID Notes: Halak, Sabres, Connolly, Sheary, Oilers, Stutzle, Sillinger
The Canucks announced (Twitter link) that goaltender Jaroslav Halak has been placed into COVID protocol. The veteran was set to get the start for today’s game against Carolina but instead, that will go to Thatcher Demko with Spencer Martin coming up from the taxi squad. Halak has made just eight appearances this season and has a $1.25MM bonus pending when he gets to his tenth. He’ll now have to wait a little longer to get that bonus, one that has recently landed himself in trade speculation as well.
More COVID news from around the NHL:
- Sabres winger Tage Thompson and center Peyton Krebs have both cleared COVID protocol, notes Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald. Thompson will suit up tonight in Detroit while they will take it a little slower with Krebs and re-assess his status on Sunday.
- Blackhawks winger Brett Connolly has entered COVID protocol, relays John Dietz of the Daily Herald (Twitter link). The veteran has only played in four games with Chicago this season and has spent most of the year in the minors. Defenseman Ian Mitchell was recalled from AHL Rockford just a day after being sent down.
- The Capitals announced (Twitter link) that winger Conor Sheary has been placed in COVID protocol. The 29-year-old has impressed in his second season in Washington, notching ten goals and nine assists in 31 games, good for third on the team in goals.
- The Oilers have taken wingers Warren Foegele and Tyler Benson plus defenseman Slater Koekkoek out of COVID protocol, mentions Sportsnet’s Jack Michaels (Twitter link). With those activations, Edmonton – who last played on January 5th – will be able to dress 18 skaters against Ottawa tonight.
- The Senators announced (Twitter link) that they have removed winger Tim Stutzle from COVID protocol. The just-turned 20-year-old has had a bit of a quieter sophomore season than expected, collecting five goals and ten assists in 29 games.
- The Blue Jackets have placed center Cole Sillinger in COVID protocol, per a team release. The rookie has held down a regular spot in the lineup with Columbus this season, notching 13 points in 35 games. Liam Foudy has been recalled from the taxi squad to take Sillinger’s place on the roster.