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New Jersey Devils Place Eric Gryba On Waivers

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Monday: Gryba has cleared waivers and can be assigned to the minor leagues. The other four players, Chris Driedger, Jeremy Smith, Adam Wilcox and Lee Stempniak also all cleared after signing NHL contracts.

Sunday: While the waiver wire features mostly recently-signed players today, one current player did slip into the mix. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that New Jersey Devils defenseman Eric Gryba has been placed on waivers. The veteran defenseman has cleared waivers previously this season, but could be a more interesting target with the deadline approaching and an underwhelming market for rental defensemen.

Gryba, 30, has had an up-and-down year. Bought out by the Edmonton Oilers this past summer, Gryba signed a one-year deal with the Devils in hopes of continuing his NHL career. Waived initially in late October, Gryba has played in just ten games with New Jersey versus 32 games with AHL Binghamton. Interestingly, Gryba has performed better in the NHL than in the AHL, at least defensively. Gryba is very much a stay-at-home defender with little to no offensive role, but has looked like a reliable depth option during appearances with New Jersey. Meanwhile, his -10 rating in Binghamton is worst among defensemen.

Gryba appears to be a player best suited for a No. 7 or 8 role in the NHL at this point in his career. He’s still solid defensively most of the time and can step in and be a capable presence in his own end, but lacks the offensive contribution or skating ability to play regular minutes, even in the AHL. Fortunately, at this time of year many teams are looking for that dependable deep depth piece. With the defense rental market highlighted by uninspiring names like Adam McQuaid, Michael Del Zotto, Bogdan Kiselevich, and Alex Petrovic, a team might prefer claiming Gryba for the stretch run rather than overpaying for a mediocre addition.

Maple Leafs Acquire Nicholas Baptiste

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Nicholas Baptiste is on the move again.  After being dealt to Nashville at the end of the preseason, TSN’s Darren Dreger reports (Twitter link) that he has once again been dealt, this time to Toronto.  The Predators’ announcement of the move indicates that the deal is for future considerations.  In a related move, the Toronto Marlies announced (via Twitter) that they have dealt ECHL winger Emerson Clark to Milwaukee (Nashville’s AHL affiliate) for future considerations.

The 23-year-old cleared waivers back in training camp and has spent the entire season at the AHL level following the move to the Predators.  In 50 games with Milwaukee, he has ten goals and ten assists.

Baptiste did spend nearly half of 2017-18 in the NHL with Buffalo where he played on their fourth line, collecting four goals and two assists in 33 games while averaging just shy of ten minutes a game.  That was enough to earn him a qualifying offer of just over $787K which he accepted back in mid-July.  However, given Toronto’s depth, it’s unlikely that he’ll return to the NHL this season.  Instead, he’ll serve as some extra insurance for the Marlies as they continue to battle for a playoff spot in the tight North Division.

Boston Bruins Sign Lee Stempniak

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The Boston Bruins have announced that they have signed veteran forward Lee Stempniak to a contract for the remainder of the season. Stempniak has been placed on waivers and will remain with AHL Providence, where he has been on a PTO, assuming he clears. Stempniak has been practicing with the Bruins since training camp and his signing has long been expected. Fox Sports’ Andy Strickland adds that it is a minimum $650K contract,  but notably a one-way deal.

Stempniak, 36, is now ready to begin his second career stint in Boston. The Bruins acquired Stempniak from the New Jersey Devils at the 2016 trade deadline from the New Jersey Devils. While Stempniak performed well, recording ten points in 19 games, it wasn’t enough to push the Bruins into the postseason. With the playoffs nearly guaranteed for Boston this year, Stempniak’s second time around will at least be lengthier. His production however is more of a question mark. Although the veteran forward has four points in four games with the AHL’s Providence Bruins over the past two weeks and was one of Boston’s top scorers in the preseason while on a tryout deal, he has not played a meaningful NHL game for more than a year. How he will be utilized by the Bruins down the stretch will be interesting to see.

At the very least, Stempniak is an affordable add that brings plenty of experience and locker room presence. A veteran of more than 900 NHL games, Stempniak brings a smart, well-rounded game up front. The Bruins made a similar addition last season in Brian Gionta, who was used sparingly in the regular season and postseason, but given Stempniak’s familiarity with the team, he may see more action. Boston also has a need at right wing, something that many expected they would fill before the trade deadline. If the Bruins can’t find the right trade to make, that could also increase Stempniak’s role over the remainder of the year.

Islanders, Panthers, Sabres Sign Minor League Goaltenders

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Several teams have fortified their depth in net before the NHL Trade Deadline, which also acts as a deadline for players to sign and be postseason-eligible. The New York Islanders have signed Jeremy Smith, the Florida Panthers have signed Chris Driedger, and the Buffalo Sabres have signed Adam Wilcox. All three deals are identical: two-way contracts worth the minimum $650K at the NHL level for the remainder of the 2018-19 season. The trio of keepers will need to clear waivers today.

Smith’s signing is the most significant, as the Islanders have all but clinched a playoff spot this season. The 29-year-old journeyman played in ten games for the Colorado Avalanche just two years ago and previous stops also include the Nashville Predators, Columbus Blue Jackets, Boston Bruins, and Carolina Hurricanes. Smith has had several strong seasons in the AHL, including a two-year stretch with the Providence Bruins a few years back in which he was among the best keepers in the league. While the Islanders have hit the jackpot this season with outstanding performances from Thomas Greiss and Robin Lehner, there was a significant lack of depth in net with third-string goalie Christopher Gibson struggling immensely this season in the AHL and having a poor track record in the NHL. With Smith signed, he is likely the new third-string should anything happen to Greiss or Lehner.

Driedger, 24, spent several years with the Ottawa Senators before signing an AHL contract with the Springfield Thunderbirds this off-season. Before the Panthers traded Michael Hutchinson away, Driedger was relegated to the ECHL with Hutchinson and Samuel Montembeault taking the AHL starts. However, he has gotten into 16 games with the Thunderbirds since and has outperformed Montembeault. The promising prospect likely remains Florida’s next man up in net, but given the injury histories of Roberto Luongo and James Reimer, it is certainly possible that both Montembeault and Driedger could see NHL action this season.

The Sabres’ signing of Wilcox is likely in response to a recent rash of injuries in net. Both Carter Hutton and Linus Ullmark have had injury scares lately, while young Jonas Johansson recently underwent season-ending surgery. While their postseason hopes are dwindling, it still remains a possibility for Buffalo and adding Wilcox gives them depth behind Hutton, Ullmark, and Scott Wedgewood. Wilcox, 26, is no stranger to being an emergency option; the Sabres were forced to call him up last season – again as the fourth-string option – and were pleased by a shutout performance in his lone appearance.

Washington Capitals Place Devante Smith-Pelly On Waivers

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Thursday: Smith-Pelly has cleared waivers and can be assigned to the minor leagues.

Wednesday: In a fascinating turn of events, the Washington Capitals have placed Devante Smith-Pelly on waivers today. Multiple reports came out this morning expecting the team to place Dmitrij Jaskin instead, given his absence at practice and word from a team spokesman, but he is not on waivers. Instead Smith-Pelly, who was pulled from practice before it concluded, is available for the rest of the league.

This situation seems similar to one in late 2018 when the Toronto Maple Leafs announced they would be placing Connor Carrick on waivers, before eventually trading him instead. No word has come on Jaskin’s status so far, but he did not join the team for practice at any point. Head coach Todd Reiden admitted to reporters including Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post that the plan was to waive Jaskin, but the team changed their minds and that there are a lot of “moving parts” behind the scenes right now.

For Smith-Pelly, this isn’t an entirely surprising move. The 26-year old forward has failed to capture any of the magic that made him one of the Capitals’ playoff heroes last spring, and has just eight points in 54 games. While he’s still a physical presence and fan favorite, the Capitals need to clear some cap room if they are going to make any deadline additions and the remainder of Smith-Pelly’s $1MM salary could be entirely buried in the minor leagues.

That is of course if he clears, which certainly isn’t guaranteed. Teams looking to improve their fourth line could do worse than the second-round pick, especially given his history in the postseason. Smith-Pelly has 13 goals in 48 career postseason games, including seven last year with the Capitals en route to a Stanley Cup.

Mike McKenna, Joseph Cramarossa On Waivers

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Thursday: Both McKenna and Cramarossa have cleared waivers.

Wednesday: After recalling and activating Brian Elliott yesterday, the Philadelphia Flyers found themselves with four goaltenders on their active roster. Today they went about changing that, by placing Mike McKenna on waivers. The Pittsburgh Penguins have also placed Joseph Cramarossa on waivers, meaning they’ve signed him to an NHL contract for the rest of the year. Cramarossa had been playing with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on an AHL contract, meaning he couldn’t have been recalled if the team wanted to have him help in Pittsburgh.

It’s been another tough year for McKenna, who by the time he retires might go down as the most well-traveled goaltender in the history of the NHL. The 35-year old has been part of three organizations just this season, suiting up for the Flyers, Ottawa Senators and Vancouver Canucks (not to mention their minor league affiliates). After being selected in the sixth round in 2002, McKenna has failed to gain any real traction in the NHL and still has just 35 games to his name. Still, he may be on to another team once again as he provides reliable minor league service wherever he goes.

Cramarossa meanwhile is just 26 but hasn’t played a game in the NHL since 2016-17 when he suited up 59 times for the Canucks and Anaheim Ducks. He has just nine points in 32 games for the AHL Penguins, but is a physical bottom-six presence that could be used as an injury replacement if necessary. The two-way contract carries an average annual value of $650K in the NHL.

San Jose Sharks Claim Micheal Haley

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The San Jose Sharks are bringing back a familiar face, claiming Micheal Haley off waivers from the Florida Panthers. Haley will be returning to the team he played 78 games for between 2014-17, and one that is loading up for another long playoff run.

It’s been a tough year for Haley on and off the ice, culminating in his removal from the Panthers roster in early October to take part in the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. The Panthers stuck with him throughout, and have put him back in the NHL lineup for 24 games this season. Those contests have resulted in just three points, but Haley was never known for his contributions on offense. Instead, he’s regarded as one of the last enforcers in the league and an extremely tough player to share the ice with.

While there’s no reason to believe Haley will see increased minutes in San Jose with a better Sharks team, this move does smack of an answer to the Nashville Predators acquisition of Cody McLeod earlier this month. The two teams expect to contend for the Stanley Cup this season and will want all the toughness and grit they can get down the stretch. Haley costs the team very little, given his $825K full-season cap hit.

Four Players Placed On Waivers

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Wednesday: Eaves, McCollum and Leighton have all cleared waivers. Haley was claimed by the San Jose Sharks.

Tuesday: Four players have been placed on waivers. Patrick Eaves of the Anaheim Ducks and Micheal Haley of the Florida Panthers are on regular waivers, while goaltenders Thomas McCollum and Michael Leighton have both signed NHL contracts for the rest of the season and were required to be put through the process. McCollum’s two-way deal with the Nashville Predators will see him earn a prorated $650K at the NHL level ($100K in the AHL) for the rest of the season, while Leighton’s contract with the Vancouver Canucks will carry the same NHL salary.

Eaves is perhaps the most surprising of the group, given the excitement over his arrival in Anaheim at the end of the 2016-17 season. The veteran forward found a perfect fit with the Ducks and scored 11 goals down the stretch for them, finishing with a career-high of 32 on the season. Unfortunately, things took a disastrous turn last season when Eaves was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome and played just two games for the Ducks. This year has been marred by injury after injury, leading to just seven games played by the 34-year old winger.

With another season remaining on his three-year, $9.45MM contract it will be hard for any team to justify a claim on Eaves, who doesn’t have a point this year. With that in mind, using waivers will give the Ducks a chance to move him back and forth if need be.

Vancouver has been strapped for goaltending help since trading away Anders Nilsson and losing Mike McKenna on waivers, and Leighton has done enough to deserve an NHL deal. The 37-year old netminder has a .912 save percentage over four games with the Utica Comets and will likely serve as emergency insurance for the Canucks down the stretch.

Edmonton Oilers Place Brandon Manning On Waivers

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Tuesday: Manning has cleared waivers and is on his way to the Bakersfield Condors.

Monday: The Edmonton Oilers have placed defenseman Brandon Manning on waivers today for the purpose of a minor league assignment. Manning will head to the Bakersfield Condors if he clears tomorrow. This move will help the Oilers clear enough cap space to activate Andrej Sekera, who is close to returning from injury.

Waiving Manning is just the latest move to seemingly undo one of former GM Peter Chiarelli’s recent transactions, as the defenseman was only acquired by the Oilers at the end of December. Edmonton gave up Drake Caggiula in order to bring in Manning and his $2.25MM average salary that runs through next season, but have decided he’s the easiest player to part with to make room for Sekera. The 28-year old defenseman played in just 12 games for the Oilers and recorded a single point.

Even though some have speculated that a claim is possible, it seems unlikely that anyone will have interest in assuming Manning’s entire remaining contract. The Blackhawks had tried for weeks to move Manning with no luck before finding the desperate Oilers, and Edmonton too has attempted to find a buyer. More probable is that Manning will go to the minor leagues for the time being in order for the team to clear a prorated $1.025MM from their cap, giving them some additional flexibility to activate Sekera.

Like the move on Sunday to trade away Ryan Spooner, Manning’s demotion will be seen as the latest failure of an organization that made many under Chiarelli. Keith Gretzky has taken over as interim GM but the team is still searching for a permanent solution. After dealing with the Spooner, Manning and Cam Talbot situations—the latter was sent to the Philadelphia Flyers over the weekend—the team must now decide what to do with young forward Jesse Puljujarvi.

Brian Gibbons Clears Waivers

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Saturday: Gibbons has cleared waivers, reports Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman (Twitter link).

Friday: The Anaheim Ducks have very few impending free agents to peddle at the deadline, especially as they continue to pursue an extension with forward Jakob Silfverberg. One of the few rentals of value was thought to be veteran forward Brian Gibbons. Well, instead the team placed Gibbons on waivers today, reports The Athletic’s James Mirtle, and contenders are now free to scoop him up.

Gibbons, 30, had played exclusively in the minors for more than two years before the start of the 2017-18 season. An aging, undersized forward, Gibbons was an unlikely candidate for a breakout year. Yet, he won a job with the New Jersey Devils and recorded 12 goals and 26 points in 52 games, both career highs and among the Devils’ top nine forwards. When he reached free agency this summer, Gibbons turned down opportunities elsewhere to sign a one-year, $1MM contract in Anaheim, where he saw a chance to remain in the NHL full-time through another season. Barring a claim in the next 24 hours, that might not happen.

Gibbons has been a non-factor for the Ducks this year, registering just five points in 43 games. With the team trying to turn their season around, and GM Bob Murray now at the helm as head coach, it seems they have opted to move on from Gibbons, who has not lived up to his performance from last season. However, that doesn’t mean another team won’t take a chance. Gibbons’ affordable cap hit is virtually meaningless at this point in the season, so a team with some roster flexibility looking for a veteran body may be interested in taking a risk-free, cost-free gamble. Gibbons showed last year that in the right situation he can still be a capable goal-scoring winger and even with the Ducks has shown consistent effort and two-way contribution. There are many players of Gibbons’ caliber available at the deadline, but not often are they up for grabs on waivers. A playoff contender could certainly put in a claim if they have not been scared off by the drop in production this year.

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