Smith was the 17th overall pick of the New Jersey Devils in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft but has had trouble establishing himself at the NHL level. The 24-year-old puck-moving defenseman has not played an NHL game since a nine-game stint with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2022-23 season.
Athanasiou, a one-time 30-goal scorer, clearing waivers on Tuesday and will report to the Rockford IceHogs (AHL). The 30-year-old Athanasiou scored 30 goals in 76 games in the 2018-19 season but has only scored 54 in 244 games since. He has zero points in five games this season with the Blackhawks.
Kahkonen was reclaimed off waivers by the Jets after losing him via waivers to the Colorado Avalanche earlier this season. The 28-year-old Kahkonen had one game to prove himself in an Avalanche uniform but allowed four goals on 20 shots (.800 SV%) in a losing effort and was placed back on waivers, reclaimed by the Jets. Kahkonen had a poor 2023-24 campaign split between the San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils, posting a 3.64 GAA and .898 SV%.
Benning was acquired in a trade earlier this season that sent Timothy Liljegren to the San Jose Sharks. The 30-year-old Benning has not played a single game with the Maple Leafs since the trade and had zero points, 10 blocks, and nine hits in seven games with the Sharks.
A near daily occurrence, Bains has been recalled from the Abbotsford Canucks (AHL) in a paper transaction due to salary cap implications. Bains has played seven games with Vancouver this season, averaging 11:40 time-on-ice and scoring one point (1G / 0A).
Ostapchuk played the last six games for Ottawa but has been sent down to the Belleville Senators (AHL). The 21-year-old Ostapchuk had five points (1G / 4A) in six games with Belleville earlier this season.
Steeves is an undrafted 24-year-old from St. Paul, Minnesota with seven games of NHL experience in his career. He has become an offensive standout at the AHL level, with 12 points (9G / 3A) in 10 games with the Toronto Marlies (AHL) this season.
Stezka was reassigned to Coachella Valley to get a start over the weekend after backing up Joey Daccord on Friday night. With Philipp Grubauer dealing with an undisclosed injury, Stezka is likely to serve as the backup once again for Tuesday's game against the Blue Jackets. Stezka has a 2-5-0 record and an .894 SV% in seven AHL games this season.
Poitras has four points (1G / 3A) in in 14 games this season and has been held off the scoresheet in six of the previous seven games. The 20-year-old, second-year player, was the 54th overall pick of the Bruins in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
After starting two of the first three games for Vancouver, Silovs has been limited to only one start in the past 10 games, as Kevin Lankinen has taken the reins of the crease. The 23-year-old Silovs remains winless in four appearances this season (0-2-1), posting an ugly 4.77 GAA and .808 SV%.
Young was a fifth-round pick of the Canucks in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. He had spent the beginning of the 2024-25 campaign with the Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL), posting a 1.01 GAA and .974 SV% in two games (1-1-0), but will look to get some action with the Abbotsford Canucks in the AHL.
Milne was the third-round pick, 89th overall, of the Minnesota Wild in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old Milne has yet to play an NHL game and returns to the Iowa Wild (AHL), where he has eight points (4G / 4A) in 10 games this season.
Phillips has been back and forth between the Blackhawks and IceHogs (AHL) this season. He has one point (1G / 0A) in three games with the Blackhawks.
Klapka played five games with the Flames earlier this season before being sent down to the Calgary Wranglers (AHL). The 24-year-old Klapka had five points (3G / 2A) in hi five-game stint with the Wranglers.
Poulin was the 21st overall pick of the Penguins in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old played three games in Pittsburgh last season but spent most of the 2023-24 campaign with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL), tallying 31 points (16G / 15A) in 41 games.
Lekkerimaki was the 15th overall pick of the Canucks in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old made his professional North American hockey debut last season but has yet to play an NHL game. He has seven points (5G / 2A) in seven games with the Abbotsford Canucks (AHL) this season.
