30 NHL players placed on waivers today

The preseason roster crunch is officially in full swing, and Thursday delivered another massive wave of transactions across the NHL. Just a day after 34 players hit the waiver wire on Wednesday, another 30 names were added to the list as teams from nine different organizations continue trimming their rosters ahead of the regular season. If you thought the cuts were slowing down, think again.

The Leafs and Wild Lead the Charge

Toronto and Minnesota each placed eight players on waivers Thursday, making them the busiest clubs of the day by a wide margin. For the Maple Leafs, the most notable name is forward Steven Lorentz, a 30-year-old who has been a fixture in the team's bottom six since arriving in 2024. Lorentz has tallied 15 goals and 37 points over two seasons in Toronto, and while his offensive numbers aren't eye-popping, his combination of grit and depth scoring on a cap hit of just $1.35 million could absolutely attract interest from other clubs. He's heading into the second year of a three-year deal, making him a low-risk option for any team looking to bolster their fourth line.

Beyond Lorentz, the Leafs also waived Brendan Brisson, Vinni Lettieri, Philippe Myers, Michael Pezzetta, Marshall Rifai, Henrik Rybinski, and Ryan Tverberg. That's a significant group, and it paints a much clearer picture of where Jim Hiller's opening night lineup is headed. For veterans like Pezzetta and Lettieri, the next 24 hours carry real stakes, as any of the other 31 teams can put in a claim before the players can be sent to the AHL.

Minnesota's list was equally packed. The Wild placed Dylan Gambrell, Justin Kirkland, Tyler Pitlick, Mason Shaw, Carson Lambos, Caeden Bankier, Matt Kiersted, and Roman Schmidt on waivers. Players like Pitlick and Lambos are expected to join the Iowa Wild, but the waiver process means nothing is guaranteed until they actually clear.

Other Notable Names on the Wire

The Los Angeles Kings contributed five players to Thursday's waiver list, including Martin Chromiak, Cole Guttman, Joe Hicketts, Lane Pederson, and prospect Francesco Pinelli. Carolina placed Viktor Neuchev, Zachary Sawchenko, and Ronan Seeley on waivers, while Dallas exposed defenseman Kyle Burroughs and forward Matthew Seminoff.

A pair of goaltenders also found themselves on the wire. Ottawa's Leevi Merilainen, who has bounced between the NHL and AHL over the past couple of seasons, appears destined to rejoin the Belleville Senators after another tough training camp showing. Nashville waived Matthew Murray, the NCAA champion goaltender (not to be confused with the former Penguins netminder), who is expected to head back to the Milwaukee Admirals.

Pittsburgh added defenseman Philip Kemp to the list, and Vancouver placed Matthew Steinburg on waivers as well, rounding out the nine organizations involved in Thursday's activity.

For younger players like Brisson, Pinelli, Lambos, and Neuchev, this is a different kind of pressure than what the veterans face. They're still trying to force their way into long-term NHL plans, and passing through waivers is just another step in that process. For the older guys, though, there's genuine uncertainty about what comes next. Some of these names will quietly clear and report to AHL affiliates. Others might wake up tomorrow wearing a completely different jersey. That's the reality of the roster squeeze, and it's far from over.

The full list of today's waiver wire news: