Bruins, Leafs, Rangers each send a player to waivers.

A number of Stanley Cup contenders were active on waivers Saturday, with the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers all sending a player to waivers. While all 3 teams were active on waivers they did so for different reasons.

In the case of the Boston Bruins we have probably the least sexy of the 3 waiver moves with 28 year old centerman Vinni Lettieri being placed on waivers. Not that Lettieri is a bad player, however it seems likely that this moves comes as a result of Lettieri being activated off of injured reserve. It seems likely he will be headed back to the American Hockey League with the Providence Bruins, assuming that he clears of course.

Things get a little spicier when we get to the Toronto Maple Leafs who have waived veteran defenseman Jordie Benn. Benn hasn't seen action in quite some time and has only appeared in 12 games all season for the Maple Leafs. This appears to be a cap-clearing move on the part of the Leafs who either will bury Benn's entire cap hit in the minors should he clear, or will see it claimed by another team should he be picked up. Either way there may be more than meets the eye here for the Maple Leafs.

The New York Rangers made a move similar to the one from the Leafs when they waived 23 year old center Jake Leschyshyn on Saturday. This once again appears to be a move designed to clear cap space with the Rangers being heavily linked to a potential trade involving Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane. Leschyshyn only appeared in 13 games for the Rangers this season after being claimed off of waivers back in January but played an additional 22 games this season prior to his time with the Rangers, as a member of the Las Vegas Golden Knights.