5 players placed on waivers one day before the deadline.

Very interesting day on the waiver wire.

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HockeyFeed
Published 5 years ago
5 players placed on waivers one day before the deadline.

It is perhaps the craziest time of year to be a fan of the National Hockey League, the days leading up the National Hockey League's annual trade deadline. Fans are left wondering which players their teams might add or what players their team might deal in the hopes of moving towards a better future, but it is also a hectic time of year for the players themselves. 

Not only do players have to worry about what team they might be traded to but in some cases they also have to wonder whether or not they might be waived, never knowing which team they might end up playing for by the end of the day on Monday. Today, one day before the NHL's trade deadline, a number of players were made available on waivers including one very surprising and unexpected name. 

None of the players waived today really stand out as players that are likely to be claimed, with perhaps one exception, and these moves seem primarily motivated by general managers looking to clear roster space in the event of a move over the next 36 hours or so. All in all we have 3 goaltenders, one defenseman and one very surprising forward for 5 total players waived today.

The goalies are former Nashville Predators second round pick in 2007 Jeremy Smith who is currently under the Islanders organization, former Tampa Bay Lightning sixth round pick Adam Wilcox who is currently under the Buffalo Sabres organization and former Ottawa Senators third round pick Chris Driedger, who is currently under the Florida Panthers organization. All 3 have largely played in the minors in recent seasons and it seems highly unlikely that they would be claimed.

The lone defenseman is 30 year old NHL veteran Eric Gryba who has seen very limited play in his time with the Devils this season. Gryba has appeared in just a total of 10 games and even with his relatively low cap hit I don't see him being added even as a depth option on the blue line. 

The one player who may get a look however is a man who didn't even appear to have an NHL contract until today. According to Sportsnet's National Hockey League insider Elliotte Friedman the Boston Bruins have placed veteran NHL forward Lee Stempniak on waivers today, an indication that they have signed him to an NHL deal. Stempniak had been working out with the Bruins since training camp and it seems his hard work has finally paid off, although whether or not that will be with the Bruins remain to be seen.

If the Bruins believe Lee Stempniak can help them at this stage of the season, I wouldn't be shocked to learn that another team would be willing to take that gamble, especially with Stempniak likely earning the league minimum on his new deal.

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