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Nicolas Meloche Clears Waivers, Assigned To AHL

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Oct 12: While Johansson was claimed as expected, Meloche was able to clear waivers and was quickly assigned to the Wranglers.

Oct 11: Two more players have been placed on waivers today, including one that was only claimed a few weeks ago. Jonas Johansson finds himself back on the wire, as the Arizona Coyotes claimed Connor Ingram yesterday, and now have too many goaltenders in the organization. This waiver-hopping always seemed a likely scenario for the Coyotes, as they try to find the best possible backup (or at least the one with the most potential) for Karel Vejmelka.

Johansson will be joined on waivers by Nicolas Meloche, who has been waived by the Calgary Flames. The Flames had Michael Stone still skating with the team today despite not having an NHL contract, which is potentially why Meloche now finds himself on the way out. If he clears, he can be assigned to the Calgary Wranglers of the AHL to continue his career in the minor leagues. (Update: A few minutes later, Stone officially signed with the Flames)

For the goaltender though, things will be a little different. If no one puts in a claim on Johansson he can go to the Tucson Roadrunners, though things are already quite crowded there. The Colorado Avalanche, who he was taken from, could reclaim the netminder and send him to the minor leagues if they are the only team that puts in a claim. That seems a likely scenario at this point, given Johansson’s relationship with the organization and Colorado’s need for additional depth at the position.

Colorado Avalanche Claim Jonas Johansson

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As expected, the Colorado Avalanche have reclaimed goaltender Jonas Johansson off waivers today, getting him back from the Arizona Coyotes after they took him for a little less than two weeks. If the Avalanche were the only team to put in a claim, they will be able to assign him directly to the minor leagues. Given their place in the waiver priority – second last, only ahead of the Florida Panthers – that seems likely.

Johansson, 27, did actually spend some time with the Panthers last season but has expressed a clear desire to stay with Colorado, the team he keeps signing with. Goaltending depth is difficult to come by, but it’s not like the 27-year-old has even been very effective.

Through 32 NHL appearances, Johansson has posted an .883 save percentage, losing 17 games in the process. His career has been consumed by waiver claims the last few years and he hasn’t played much, hitting the ice just 28 times over the past two seasons at all combined levels.

The claim actually kind of helps the Coyotes, as there was about to be a logjam at the goaltending position in the minor leagues. They likely would have had to find a place to loan Johansson to keep him playing. He won’t need that in Colorado where there is much less depth, with just four other goaltenders signed in the entire organization.

Carolina Hurricanes Recall Jordan Martinook

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After clearing waivers a few days ago, beloved forward Jordan Martinook is back up on an NHL roster with the Carolina Hurricanes. Evidently, the team has made the salary cap moves necessary to accommodate him on the active roster.

In a corresponding move, the team assigned forward Jamieson Rees and goalie Pyotr Kochetkov to the AHL’s Chicago Wolves.

Waiving Martinook and temporarily assigning him to the AHL allowed Carolina to optimize their cap space as much as possible prior to placing defenseman Jake Gardiner on long-term injured reserve to start the season. With Gardiner and his $4.05MM cap hit now on LTIR, the team now had the flexibility to recall Martinook.

He’ll likely reprise his role as the team’s fourth-line left wing, with AHL superstar Stefan Noesen serving as the team’s 13th forward for the time being. He’ll likely flank Derek Stepan and Ondrej Kase, making for a dynamic fourth line.

Glenn Gawdin Clears Waivers

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Oct 11: Gawdin has cleared waivers and can be assigned to the minor leagues.

Oct 10: Over the past couple of weeks, the waiver wire has been a busy place as teams quickly pared down their rosters in preparation for the start of the season.  Today, the list of players available is much smaller – just one, in fact – as Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reports (Twitter link) that the Ducks have placed forward Glenn Gawdin on waivers.

Anaheim signed the 25-year-old in free agency back in July on the heels of another very productive season in the minors.  He spent the bulk of 2021-22 with AHL Stockton, notching 15 goals and 35 assists in 62 games while also getting into a pair of games with Calgary.  Gawdin’s market was strong enough that he was able to get a two-year deal from Anaheim worth the minimum in both seasons including a one-way salary for the upcoming season.  Assuming he clears successfully on Tuesday, he’ll be sent to AHL San Diego where he’ll be counted on to play a big role with the Gulls.

Earlier in the day, five players were picked up off waivers – goaltender Connor Ingram (Arizona), defensemen Josh Mahura (Florida) and Jarred Tinordi (Chicago), plus forwards Axel Jonsson Fjallby (Winnipeg) and Brett Leason (Anaheim).  The other 59 players from yesterday’s waiver class all passed through unclaimed.

Snapshots: Sprong, Dickinson, Mailloux

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After converting his PTO into another NHL contract, Seattle Kraken winger Daniel Sprong isn’t able to be a full participant with the team just yet. According to The Seattle Times’ Kate Shefte, Sprong is dealing with work visa complications and is expected to rejoin the team within the next few days.

This does put Sprong’s availability for Seattle’s season opener on Wednesday in Anaheim in doubt. While Sprong was productive in terms of goals after joining the Kraken at the trade deadline last season, their added depth on the wing puts him squarely in a fourth-line role with everyone healthy. In his stead, Karson Kuhlman is expected to dress against Anaheim if Sprong can’t play.

  • Similarly, new Chicago Blackhawks forward Jason Dickinson is also battling visa issues after arriving from Vancouver. The Athletic’s Mark Lazerus reports that Dickinson will miss the team’s first two games of the season at the least, potentially missing three. Dickinson’s absence and his ability to be designated as a non-roster player in the meantime allowed them to claim defenseman Jarred Tinordi off waivers today without making a corresponding roster move.
  • While Montreal Canadiens defense prospect Logan Mailloux will start the season on injured reserve, he won’t stay there for long. Sportsnet’s Eric Engels notes to expect Montreal to send him back to the OHL’s London Knights after he returns to practice. Mailloux is expected to play a full season in London after injuries and a lengthy suspension due to his sexual misconduct charge during his draft year in Sweden limited him to 12 games.

Ducks Claim Brett Leason Off Waivers

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While Anaheim lost a player on waivers today, they also picked one up as Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports (Twitter link) that they’ve claimed winger Brett Leason off waivers from Washington.

The 23-year-old split last season between the Capitals and their AHL affiliate in Hershey.  With Washington, Leason played in 36 games, recording three goals and three assists while averaging just under nine minutes a night.  He was a bit more productive with the Bears, however, tallying six goals and seven helpers in 31 contests down there.  His career-best in points in the minors is only 20 despite finishing up his junior career with a dominant performance in 2018-19 that saw him put up 89 points in 55 games with WHL Prince Albert, helping to make him a second-round pick in his final year of draft eligibility.

This was Leason’s first year of being waiver-eligible and he came up just short of making Washington’s opening roster and will now try to earn himself a spot in Anaheim’s lineup over the coming days.  He’s beginning the first season of a two-year, one-way contract that carries a cap hit of $775K.

Blackhawks Claim Jarred Tinordi Off Waivers

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After moving out Riley Stillman recently, the Blackhawks have made a move to add some grit on their back end as NorthStar Bets’ Chris Johnston reports (Twitter link) that they’ve claimed Jarred Tinordi off waivers from the Rangers.

The fact that Tinordi was picked up might come as a bit of a surprise as he passed through unclaimed back in January but Chicago feels they have a need for the 30-year-old.  He’s coming off a season that saw him spend most of his time with AHL Hartford where he had a goal and four assists along with 56 penalty minutes in 32 games.  Tinordi also got into seven games with New York, picking up a single goal.

Tinordi has played in 109 career NHL contests over parts of nine seasons, picking up 132 blocks and 242 hits over that span.  Being a reserve defenseman is a role that he is accustomed to having and that’s likely what helped convince Chicago to make this claim.  As a rebuilding squad, they’re better off having a veteran as the seventh defender that only suits up in certain matchups than having a youngster in the press box.  Tinordi is in the final year of his contract which carries a $900K cap hit.  He will be eligible for unrestricted free agency next summer.

Jets Claim Axel Jonsson Fjallby Off Waivers

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Winnipeg’s bottom six forward group has undergone some changes over the offseason and one more change has been made as Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports (Twitter link) that they’ve claimed winger Axel Jonsson Fjallby off waivers from Washington.

It’s the second season in a row that the 24-year-old has been claimed off waivers as Buffalo scooped him up a season ago only to waive him less than a week later with a visa issue playing a role in that.  Washington reclaimed Jonsson Fjallby at that time and sent him to the minors where he had a productive season with Hershey, notching 16 goals and 18 assists in 44 games.  However, he also got his first taste of NHL action, picking up two goals and two assists in 23 games while logging over 11 minutes a night with the Caps.

Jonsson Fjallby is in the final season of a two-year, two-way deal that pays the league minimum at the NHL level and will need to have much more of a regular role in Winnipeg for him to play enough games to avoid being eligible for Group Six unrestricted free agency next summer.  He’ll take the place of Jansen Harkins on the roster for the Jets after Harkins cleared waivers earlier today.

Panthers Claim Josh Mahura Off Waivers

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Florida has added some extra depth on the back end as Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports (Twitter link) that they’ve claimed defenseman Josh Mahura off waivers from Anaheim.

The 24-year-old spent all of last season with the Ducks, his first full year at the NHL level.  However, his role was somewhat limited as he suited up in just 38 games (while only missing 13 due to injury).  He had three goals and four assists in those games while logging a little over 14 minutes per night.  Over parts of a four-year NHL career (all in Anaheim), Mahura has six goals and 14 helpers in 79 contests while averaging more than a hit and block per game.

Mahura is in the final season of a two-year deal that’s worth the league minimum of $750K so he’s a low-cost flyer for the Panthers.  With Lucas Carlsson and Michael Del Zotto both clearing waivers today, they’ll be sent down to make room on the roster for Mahura while team reporter Jameson Olive relays (Twitter link) that fellow blueliner Matt Kiersted is listed as day-to-day.

Coyotes Claim Connor Ingram

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For the second time this preseason, the Coyotes have added to their goaltending depth as Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports (Twitter link) that they’ve claimed Connor Ingram off waivers from Nashville.

The 25-year-old saw his first NHL action last season, getting into three games during the regular season with the Predators, posting a 3.71 GAA along with a .879 SV%.  However, after David Rittich struggled in the opening game of the playoffs (with Juuse Saros out of the lineup), Nashville turned to Ingram for the rest of their series against Colorado and he held his own with a .913 SV% in the three games he suited up in.

Ingram has a much better track record of success in the minors which is likely what prompted the Coyotes to put in a claim.  He has a save percentage of .919 over parts of six seasons in the AHL, spanning 149 games.  He’s in the final season of a three-year minimum contract that carries a $733K AAV so he’s certainly a low-cost option for them to try.

Karel Vejmelka is set to enter the season as the starter while Ingram will be battling fellow waiver claim Jonas Johansson for the second-string role.  Meanwhile, Jon Gillies, who entered camp as the potential backup, cleared waivers today and will be on his way to Tucson of the AHL.

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