Spencer Martin, Ty Smith highlight names on opening day of waivers
The NHL waiver wire opened today, with the Colorado Avalanche, Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks all contributing to the list.
Waivers (2023-09-28)#Avs
Callahan Burke#Penguins
Taylor Fedun
Jonathan Gruden
Xavier Ouellet
Rem Pitlick
Ty Smith#Canucks
Spencer Martinhttps://t.co/Py76o9jtAs
The full list is as follows:
Colorado Avalanche
Callahan Burke, W
Pittsburgh Penguins
Taylor Fedun, D
Jonathan Gruden, C
Xavier Ouellet, D
Rem Pitlick, C
Ty Smith, D
Vancouver Canucks
Spencer Martin, G
Martin, 28, is the biggest name on the list, as he spent a majority of the 2022-23 season as the Canucks backup goaltender. In 29 regular season games, he had an 11-15-1 record with an .871% save percentage and -14.83 5v5 goals saved above expected, with the latter stat being the fifth worst in the league last season. With the recent acquisition of Casey DeSmith from the Montreal Canadiens, the Canucks had their goaltending tandem set with DeSmith backing up Thatcher Demko. However, if injuries occur, it’s possible that he could be the first goalie up should he clear waivers.
Smith, 23, is another notable name on the wire, and is in just his second season with the Penguins franchise after being part of the return from the New Jersey Devils for John Marino. Smith spent most of the season in the AHL with 7 goals, 17 assists, and 24 points in 39 games, but he did play nine games with the Penguins where he put up a goal, three assists, and four points. His chances of making the squad seemed slim already with his struggles in the NHL, but the addition of Erik Karlsson added to a crowded blueline with few spots for Smith.
Rem Pitlick, 26, is another name from the Penguins on waivers, a center who joined the organization in the 2023 offseason as one of the many moving parts in the Karlsson trade, being the only player that the Canadiens sent to Pittsburgh. He had a disappointing 2022-23 season in Montreal after being a surprising waiver addition the year prior. In 46 games, he had just 6 goals, 9 assists, and 15 points in the NHL, although he played well in the AHL with the Laval Rocket, where he had 5 goals, 17 assists, and 22 points in 18 games.