NHL Hockey Player News
Vatanen had two goals and four assists (six points) in 30 games with the Devils this season. With Jonas Siegenthaler acquired from the Capitals on Sunday, Vatanen was waived on Sunday. Dallas claiming him off of waivers could be anticipation of trading a defenseman like Mark Pysyk or Jamie Oleksiak later today.
Mete was a fourth-round pick of the Canadiens in 2016 and has picked up 34 points (4G / 30A) in 185 games since. Mete had a tough time finding a permanent spot on Montreal's blueline this season and was waived to make room for Jon Merrill on Sunday. Mete will not have the same difficulty finding playing time in Ottawa.
Caggiula has scored one goal with six assists in 27 games this season. The 26-year-old will head to his fourth team in the last three years and gives the Sabres an extra NHL body ahead of Monday's Trade Deadline.
Boyd has had a decent season as a Maple Leafs' depth piece, scoring three goals with five assists (eight points) in 20 games. The 27-year-old will help bolster the Canucks' bottom-6.
Stalock has missed the first month and a half of the season with an upper-body injury but was placed on waivers on Sunday after getting back to 100 percent. The 33-year-old was 20-11-4 with a 2.67 GAA and .910 SV% last season and adds some much-needed depth to the Oilers' crease.
Tinordi appeared in seven games with the Predators this season before being placed on waivers on Friday. The Bruins don't have the best blueline depth and have a few waiver-exempt defensemen so adding Tinordi boosts that depth and gives them more options and flexibility.
Friedman has ties to new Penguins' GM Ron Hextall, who drafted Friedman while he was the GM of the Flyers in 2014. The 25-year-old defenseman has appeared in just 11 NHL games since then, picking up one assist.
The Kings lost Grosenick on waivers to the Oilers in mid-January but re-claimed the 31-year-old netminder on Saturday. The Oilers waiving him suggests that Mike Smith will be ready to re-join the active roster soon.
Edmonton was in trouble with Mike Smith going on LTIR and Anton Forsberg getting claimed off of waivers but claiming Grosenick gives them a veteran backup with a little NHL experience. The 31-year-old went 20-9-3 with a 2.29 GAA and .920 SV% in 33 AHL games a season ago and most likely leaps over Stuart Skinner as the Oilers’ new No.2 netminder.
Forsberg was originally claimed off of waivers by the Hurricanes as insurance before they waived Alex Nedeljkovic but with Nedeljkovic clearing, they no longer needed Forsberg. Winnipeg lost Eric Comrie on waivers last week, so Forsberg fills their No.3 goalie hole.
Sbisa will turn 31 in late-January and is now with his fifth team since 2017. Sbisa has registered six goals and 32 assists (38 points) in 165 games with the Canucks, Golden Knights, Islanders and Jets over that span.
Comrie continues to work his way around the NHL. He was drafted by the Jets in the second round in 2013 but has been claimed by Arizona, Detroit and then back to Winnipeg since 2019 and is on the move again in 2021. The Devils were shocked by the retirement of Corey Crawford last week, so Comrie will battle with Scott Wedgewood for the backup role to Mackenzie Blackwood. Comrie is 2-5-0 with a 4.23 GAA and .868 SV% in eight career NHL games.
Balcers was originally a fifth-round pick of the Sharks but was traded to the Senators as a part of the Erik Karlsson deal in 2018. He appeared in 51 career games with the Senators, scoring six goals with 11 assists (17 points), and now returns to San Jose where he could work his way into a bottom-6 role.
The Hurricanes put Alex Nedeljkovic on waivers on Tuesday, so they claimed Forsberg in case they lose Nedeljkovic tomorrow. Forsberg was with the Hurricanes last year, going 1-1-0 while allowing eight goals on 78 shots (.897 SV%) in three games. He signed with the Oilers this offseason but was waived Monday.
Juulsen was a first-round pick (No.26 overall) in 2015 but only played in 44 NHL games since. Juulsen has dealt with headache issues in recent years, last year playing just 13 games with Laval (AHL). Still, he is just 23-years-old and has a bright future as long as he can stay healthy and on the ice.