NHL Roster Adjustments and Player Acquisitions
As the NHL prepares for the upcoming season, roster adjustments are underway, leading to a flurry of player claims from waivers on cutdown day. On Monday, the Toronto Maple Leafs made headlines by acquiring two players: goaltender Cayden Primeau from the Carolina Hurricanes and left winger Sammy Blais from the Montreal Canadiens, as reported by TVA’s Renaud Lavoie.
Player Profiles
Cayden Primeau, 26, has a history with the Canadiens, where he spent six seasons before being traded to Carolina earlier this summer in exchange for a seventh-round draft choice. Last season, he served as a backup in Montreal, recording a 2-3-1 record alongside a goals-against average (GAA) of 4.70 and a save percentage (SP) of .836 over 11 NHL game appearances. In the AHL, he made a significant impact with the Laval Rocket, boasting an impressive 21-2-3 record, 1.96 GAA, and .927 SP, which highlighted his capabilities as a goaltender.
Sammy Blais, on the other hand, is making a notable return to the NHL after a successful season with the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks, where he notched 40 points over 51 games and contributed to their Calder Cup victory. The 29-year-old forward, who previously played for teams like the St. Louis Blues—where he won a Stanley Cup in 2019—and the New York Rangers, was signed by Montreal to a one-year deal worth $775,000 earlier this summer.
Other Notable Moves
The Buffalo Sabres also made a move in the goaltender department, claiming Colten Ellis off waivers from the St. Louis Blues. At 25 years old and drafted 93rd overall in 2019, Ellis has yet to see NHL action. However, his AHL performance indicates promise; last season, he achieved a 22-14-2 record with the Springfield Thunderbirds, posting a 2.63 GAA and a .922 SP.
Furthermore, the Tampa Bay Lightning added center Curtis Douglas, standing impressively at 6-foot-9 and weighing 242 pounds. Although he has not yet played in the NHL, his stature positions him to be a giant presence on the ice akin to Zdeno Chara. Last season, Douglas played 63 games with the Tucson Roadrunners, contributing 10 goals and 13 assists while accumulating significant penalty minutes. He enters his second season on a two-year, two-way contract valued at $775,000 per season.
Waivers and Claims
In contrast, the other players who were put on waivers on Sunday did not attract claims and cleared, including goaltenders Clay Stevenson, Nico Daws, and Michael DiPietro, as well as seasoned veterans Erik Gustafsson, Justin Holl, and Michael Pezzetta. Notably, there were no additional players placed on waivers on Monday, according to information from PuckPedia.
