Speculation: October Waiver Candidates
- Thread starter Oskar The Groucho
- Start date
Dabeast
Registered User
Maurice of Orange
13:21 🏒🏒
- Feb 5, 2016
- 10,772
- 7,318
Longing for the Old-School Waiver Draft to return someday.
When the waiver draft was around NHL teams were preparing for the start of the regular season in all the usual ways. Final cuts were being made. Last-minute contracts were being signed. Opening-night starting goalies were being named.
And, in what’s become an annual tradition, we got one last flurry of moves on the waiver wire. Since the collective bargaining agreement dictates that some players can’t be sent to the minors without passing through waivers, the final days before the regular season always sees a bunch of last-minute attempts to sneak guys through.
The waiver draft was around from 1977 to 2003, it was great, because anything involving a draft is by definition going to be fun. The entry draft is fun; your fantasy hockey draft is fun; expansion drafts are just about the most fun thing ever. And the waiver draft was fun, too, which is presumably why it had to die.
When lockout wiped out the 2004-05 season the 2004 waiver draft never happened, because the 2004-05 season didn’t happen. When the league finally emerged from its season-killing work stoppage a year later, with a salary cap and plenty of on-ice rule changes in place, virtually nobody noticed that the new CBA had eliminated the waiver draft.
A decade later, the NHL has settled nicely into a waiver-draft-free existence. Fans have grown used to their daily noon updates from any number of insiders, alerting them to which players have been put on waivers that day, and which have passed through or been claimed from the day before. The new system works.
But here’s hoping that the waiver draft makes a return someday. Until that time comes, we’ll always have Jeff Brubaker and Chris Joseph, Norm Maciver and Zdeno Ciger, a few dozen or so certified heavyweights, and even the occasional Chris Osgood. R.I.P., waiver draft. You’ll always go first overall in our hearts. (Then be immediately traded back for future considerations.)
When the waiver draft was around NHL teams were preparing for the start of the regular season in all the usual ways. Final cuts were being made. Last-minute contracts were being signed. Opening-night starting goalies were being named.
And, in what’s become an annual tradition, we got one last flurry of moves on the waiver wire. Since the collective bargaining agreement dictates that some players can’t be sent to the minors without passing through waivers, the final days before the regular season always sees a bunch of last-minute attempts to sneak guys through.
The waiver draft was around from 1977 to 2003, it was great, because anything involving a draft is by definition going to be fun. The entry draft is fun; your fantasy hockey draft is fun; expansion drafts are just about the most fun thing ever. And the waiver draft was fun, too, which is presumably why it had to die.
When lockout wiped out the 2004-05 season the 2004 waiver draft never happened, because the 2004-05 season didn’t happen. When the league finally emerged from its season-killing work stoppage a year later, with a salary cap and plenty of on-ice rule changes in place, virtually nobody noticed that the new CBA had eliminated the waiver draft.
A decade later, the NHL has settled nicely into a waiver-draft-free existence. Fans have grown used to their daily noon updates from any number of insiders, alerting them to which players have been put on waivers that day, and which have passed through or been claimed from the day before. The new system works.
But here’s hoping that the waiver draft makes a return someday. Until that time comes, we’ll always have Jeff Brubaker and Chris Joseph, Norm Maciver and Zdeno Ciger, a few dozen or so certified heavyweights, and even the occasional Chris Osgood. R.I.P., waiver draft. You’ll always go first overall in our hearts. (Then be immediately traded back for future considerations.)
caley
Moderator
IIRC, Pulkkinen is recovering from surgery and likely won't be around until late-October to mid-November. By that point, someone is likely to be injured so Detroit will have more time to evaluate him before making that decision.
McShogun99
Registered User
Have you seen strippers in Montreal? I don't know how every player there isn't doing that.
I agree. Why shove players through waivers in dribbles when you can do it all at once and build some fan interest when doing it?
Number1RedWingsFan52
Registered User
Totally agree with this, Time will tell. 4 months would be around Mid-November to get his skating legs back and 6 months would be about Mid-January those would be around the timelines of Pulkkinens return i would think.
Blueshirts 94
DJ ZBad
All these guys will probably see waivers this year.
Gerbe
Jensen
Hrivik
Jooris
Glass
Clendening
EDIT: not all at once, but at some point. Jensen, Hrivik, and Clendening probably hit before the season starts.
Number1RedWingsFan52
Registered User
Maukkis
EZ4ENCE
- Mar 16, 2016
- 10,721
- 7,597
Most Jets fans are hoping that it happens, but I wouldn't count on it, nor would I want it to. Losing Pavelec means throwing Hellebuyck directly to the wolves.
Hutchinson is a very likely waiver candidate for us. Other possibilities would be Thorburn, Peluso, Burmistrov etc.
Roof Daddy
Registered User
- Apr 1, 2008
- 13,201
- 2,387
I remember being choked that he went one pick before my Oilers pick (we took Klefbom). I think the Oil scouting staff were pretty high on him, so we probably owe the Hawks for that one.
Magic Man
Registered User
If the Leafs are still without a back-up come that point. I think Hutch would make a lot of sense to claim.
The price would be right too. Isn't he signed for only a million or something like that?
LeafChief
Matthew Knies Enthusiast
I think Jurco makes the Wings, and is given one final chance. (Unfortunately this will mean AA in the AHL to start) Frk, Sproul and Jensen will all hit waivers for sure.
Hutch was re-signed so we have a goalie for the expansion draft and Pavs shouldn't be the starter on any NHL team.
Hutch and Helle can handle a year between them. Both are better goalies...
Bryanbryoil
Pray For Ukraine
- Sep 13, 2004
- 87,865
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What's the deal with Sproul? What are his weaknesses? He seems like a good potential waiver wire pickup for the Oilers. I remember when he was seen as a non starter for Petry so at some point he had to have been pretty highly touted. Every time that I see his name I think that he'd be a guy worth taking a chance on but I admittedly know next to nothing about his game except that he has offensive skills, has size and is a RHD.
danielpalfredsson
youtube dot com /watch?v=CdqMZ_s7Y6k
- Aug 14, 2013
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Puempel isn't hitting waivers in October. If he fails to find a spot this season, he could hit waivers next year.
He's put up big goal totals in the AHL compared to his age, and the only reason he didn't get a spot in the NHL at the beginning of last season was because he was waiver exempt and Prince wasn't. He was used extensively compared to other prospects during Ottawa's big run in '15 until he went down with an injury.
rumrokh
THORBS
- Mar 10, 2006
- 10,155
- 3,385
I'm pretty sure Paajarvi has cleared waivers before and likely would again unless some other team has some unfortunate injuries. Rattie, I expect, would get taken. He performed and produced when he had the chance. The Blues' middle forward depth is a little clogged at the moment, but since they need a scoring right wing, I bet Rattie sticks, even as a 13/14 guy who pressures Jaskin. Assuming Steen is ready and Sobotka returns, I think Paajarvi and Ferraro will have to beat out Rattie very clearly in order to make the opening roster.
DudeWhereIsMakar
Bergevin sent me an offer sheet
Pavelec for us, unless a team needs to fill up cap room for one season and needs a backup I think they should take Pavelec.
I'd do it if I was a GM who had to fill up cap space for only one season and needed a backup.
Dead serious btw.
I'd do it if I was a GM who had to fill up cap space for only one season and needed a backup.
Dead serious btw.
Number1RedWingsFan52
Registered User
He's a big body obviously, A strong skater if Sproul has any deficiencies it's his defensive game he has a wicked slapper. I'm a big Sproul fan myself and would love to see Holland give him a chance. I would rather see Sproul as the 7th D-man over Ouellet any day. I don't know what Holland's thinking is on Sproul when there was mention of Petry possibly coming home to Detroit. It sounded like McTavish wanted Helm+Sproul and Holland wouldn't do it. It sounded like he was willing to add Ouellet to the deal but didn't want to part with either Helm or Sproul. I think that Sproul has all the tools i can see him as a Zidlicky type of D-man at least. I think Sproul is a better Cody Franson any day. Sproul would look good with the Oilers on their bottom pairing i think Sproul really could help Edmonton if it goes that far.
