After the entire crop of players placed on waivers from yesterday cleared, today has just three hitting the wire. Each one of them is an interesting name for various reasons.
Kenny Agostino (BOS)
Ville Pokka (CHI)
Duncan Siemens (COL)
Agostino was signed this summer to a one-way, $875K contract by the Bruins after leading the AHL in scoring a year ago. With 83 points in 56 games he was easily the most dangerous forward in the league, but got into just seven games with the St. Louis Blues. His struggle to find a full-time NHL job will continue, as even if he is claimed on waivers there is no guarantee he stays with the club throughout the year. His talent is unquestionable, but after not beating out several rookies in Bruins camp it might be another hard season.
Pokka was selected in the second round, 34th-overall by the Islanders in 2012 and still hasn’t suited up for a single NHL game. Despite strong point totals in the AHL, the defenseman hasn’t ever really shown that he can put together an NHL-caliber game. While many hoped this would be the fall he would show off an improved two way game in training camp, it never materialized. He’s a real threat to be taken by a defense-strapped team looking for a rebuild, as he’s still just 23 and has some potential left.
Siemens may be the most disappointing of the bunch. A former 11th-overall pick, the Colorado defenseman has never shown anything other than size in his professional career. Though there was some hope he could turn into a shutdown blueliner, his skill (or lack thereof) with the puck on his stick has continually held him back. Though he showed some promise at the end of last year, he couldn’t even make the Avalanche, who are as starved for defensive help as anyone in the league. He’ll likely slip through and try to build his value back up in the AHL.
