Leafs Missed Out On Free Opportunity To Acquire Skilled Young Forward Off Waivers
The Toronto Maple Leafs missed out on adding a young forward to their depth as Jakob Pelletier went unclaimed and returned to the AHL.
If Brad Treliving wanted to add some forward depth to his lineup he could have looked to his old team and grabbed one of their exciting prospects.Elliotte Friedman reports that Jakob Pelletier was placed on waivers and went unclaimed, being now a part of Calgary's next game.
It's a waiver claim that went under the radar and Toronto might be kicking themselves that they missed out on adding Pelletier.
Drafted 26th overall in 2019, Pelletier has spent a little time with the Flames, scoring 10 points in 37 games. Not your typical Brad Treliving type at 5'9, he still could have provided a fresh spark to the Maple Leafs offense.
After a blistering junior career with Moncton, he ended up in Calgary where he's put together 51 goals and 79 assists for the Stockton Heat and Calgary Wranglers of the AHL. He has yet to play a game in 2024-25 for the Flames but is hoping to make an impact for a Flames team that is looking for their next big star.
Toronto adding Pelletier would have helped out their forward-depth situation, and while it's not the defensive wall that Treliving wants from a new forward, there's no denying the potential, and it would have brought Pelletier back to the man who drafted him in 2019.
He also would have helped with the list of injuries that Toronto is dealing with and could have been part of an exciting future alongside Fraser Minten, Nikita Grebenkin, and Matthew Knies.
If Pelletier ends up going on waivers again, Brad Treliving needs to be more aware of when he is able to potentially snap up his former prospect as he knows exactly what he's getting when it comes to the young winger.
FAQ: Maple Leafs Miss Out On Unclaimed Forward
Q1: Who could the Maple Leafs have claimed off waivers?
A1: The Maple Leafs could have claimed speedy winger Jakob Pelletier from Calgary. A former first-round pick, he would have helped Toronto's forward depth.
Q2: How do waivers work in the NHL?
A2: When a player is sent to the minors, they must go through a waiver period where they are essentially offered to the other teams to make a claim to add them to their roster before they get sent down to the minors with their original club.
The Toronto Maple Leafs missed out on adding another prospective forward to increase their depth is a bit frustrating for fans, but given that Toronto is doing so well they decided Pelletier wasn't in their plans.
Though next time he does go on waivers, Brad Treliving should keep his eyes open more.
