Juuso Valimaki, Austin Czarnik, and Radim Zohorna among 19 players on waivers

Credit: © Bob Frid

With the final day of preseason underway, NHL teams continue to narrow down their rosters as 19 players find themselves on waivers on Saturday.

The Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, and Detroit Red Wings were the most active on the waiver wire, with all three teams sending down three players each.

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic was the only player claimed from Friday’s list, with the Montreal Canadiens placing the claim. Kovacevic played in four games for the Jets in 2021-22, with no points in those games.

Here is the full list of players waived on Saturday:
Kale Clague, D (Buffalo)
Jeremy Davies, D (Buffalo)
Chase Priskie, D (Buffalo)
Dennis Gilbert, D (Calgary)
Juuso Valimaki, D (Calgary)
Radim Zohorna, LW (Calgary)
Shane Bowers, C (Colorado)
Martin Kaut, RW (Colorado)
Austin Czarnik, C (Detroit)
Steven Kampfer, D (Detroit)
Matt Luff, RW (Detroit)
Brad Malone, C (Edmonton)
Mark Friedman, D (Pittsburgh)
Joey D’Accord, G (Seattle)
Alexander True, C (Seattle)
Joey Anderson, RW (Toronto)
Mac Hollowell, D (Toronto)
Sheldon Dries, C (Vancouver)
Christian Wolanin, D (Vancouver)

Valimaki, 24, is a former first round pick of the Flames, selected 16th overall in the 2017 draft. He played just nine games with the Flames in 2021-22, spending more time in the AHL with the Stockton Heat, where he played 35 games. He’s had just one season of regular playing time, with 49 games in the 2020-21 shortened season.

Czarnik, 29, signed with the Red Wings in the offseason after six seasons with the Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, New York Islanders, and Seattle Kraken. He played in 17 games last season between the Islanders and Kraken, with two goals, five assists, and seven points on the year. He’ll likely serve as a bottom six depth option for the Red Wings if he clears.

Zohorna, 26, finds himself on the waiver wire for the second time this season, as he was originally claimed by the Flames after the Pittsburgh Penguins placed him on waivers earlier in the preseason. He had two goals, four assists, and six points in 17 games last season for the Penguins.

Kovacevic joins this list of players that have been claimed off waivers so far this fall:
Jonas Johansson (from COL to ARI)
Magnus Hellberg (from SEA to OTT)
Radim Zohorna (from PIT to CGY)