Another NHL goalie claimed on waivers today

The waiver wire has been busy this preseason, and yet another netminder has found a new home. With rosters getting trimmed and teams making tough decisions ahead of the regular season, it was only a matter of time before a goaltender with legitimate NHL experience became available. And the Winnipeg Jets were more than happy to pounce on the opportunity.

The Jets Add Clay Stevenson to the Mix

Winnipeg officially claimed goaltender Clay Stevenson off waivers from the Washington Capitals on September 28th. The 27-year-old from Drayton Valley, Alberta is an undrafted free agent who originally signed with Washington back in 2022 and has quietly built an impressive resume in the years since.

Stevenson appeared in four games with the Caps during the 2025-26 season and looked solid, posting a 3-1-0 record along with a 2.00 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. Those are encouraging numbers for a guy who spent the bulk of his time in the AHL with the Hershey Bears. Down in Hershey, Stevenson suited up for 37 regular season contests and went 18-13-3 with a 2.62 GAA and .912 save percentage. He also got some valuable postseason experience, going 3-3 in six playoff games while recording a shutout and maintaining a .921 save percentage.

Over the course of his professional career, Stevenson has been a workhorse at the AHL level. In 109 regular season games with the Bears, he compiled a 63-31-9 record with nine shutouts, a 2.50 GAA, and a .909 save percentage. Oh, and he was part of the Hershey squad that captured the 2024 Calder Cup, so the guy knows what it takes to win when the pressure is on. At the NHL level, his five career appearances have produced a 3-2-0 record with a 2.60 GAA and .906 save percentage.

Why This Move Matters for Winnipeg

This claim makes a lot of sense when you consider the current state of affairs in Winnipeg. The Jets are dealing with a significant goaltending situation, as franchise cornerstone Connor Hellebuyck is currently suspended after failing to report to training camp due to a trade request. That leaves a massive void between the pipes, and the Jets clearly need to shore up their depth in net while that situation plays out.

Stevenson is not going to be confused with a number one starter at the NHL level, at least not yet. But he brings a winning pedigree, playoff experience, and the kind of steady numbers that suggest he can hold his own when called upon. For a team suddenly scrambling for goaltending options, picking up a guy with a Calder Cup ring and respectable NHL stats for free off the waiver wire is a no-brainer.

It will be interesting to see how the Jets deploy Stevenson going forward and whether the Hellebuyck situation gets resolved anytime soon. In the meantime, Winnipeg has added a capable goaltender to the roster without having to give up any assets, and in a league where goaltending depth can make or break a season, that is a move worth paying attention to.