Avalanche’s Ivan Prosvetov and Golden Knights’ Brayden Pachal on waivers

Saturday’s waiver wire features two players set to head down to the minors for the first time this season, as the Colorado Avalanche have placed goaltender Ivan Prosvetov on waivers while the Vegas Golden Knights have done the same with defenseman Brayden Pachal.

Prosvetov, 24, falls on waivers after the Avalanche claimed him during the preseason from the Arizona Coyotes when they needed a backup goalie due to the long-term injury of Pavel Francouz. Francouz won’t be returning this season, so Prosvetov being on waivers means that a corresponding move must be made for the Avalanche to have a backup for Alexandar Georgiev, whether that be through a trade or from another option in the AHL, like Justus Annunen.

Prosvetov had struggled to perform up to the level of what the Avs needed in their backup goalie, as he had just a 4-3-1 record and an .895 save percentage in 11 games this season. That said, he’s actually been the better of the two goalies this season in terms of what he’s allowed in comparison to the chances he’s faced, as his -1.22 5v5 goals saved above expected is currently higher than Georgiev’s -4.27.

Pachal, 24, is likely on waivers to make room for another defenseman returning from injury, as the Golden Knights currently have four defensemen on injured reserve. There’s no indication as to which one is returning, but Ben Hutton, Tobias Bjornfot and Daniil Miromanov all appear to be close being back in the lineup.

Pachal has been on the NHL roster all season, but struggled to get into the lineup with the Golden Knights, with just five games in Vegas’ last 36 after appearing in 12 of their first 14 games. Pachal had one goal on the season in those 17 games with Vegas.

New York Islanders winger Julien Gauthier was announced to have cleared waivers after being placed on the wire on Friday. Gauthier had five goals and four assists for nine points in 27 games this season with the Isles.