A List of Last-Minute Waiver Wire Names as the 2024-2025 Season Approaches
The NHL season is right around the corner and some names have been unable to secure a spot for the regular season, and we look at some of the interesting names.
With the NHL regular season kicking off in North America on Wednesday, teams are putting the final touches on their roster, and for a select few players, it's been a journey that ends with a trip to the waiver wire. It's never fun for players or management, and the hard work and dedication sometimes just don't win over talent or filling a specific role.
So with teams needing to put in their official rosters by 5 pm on Monday, we take a look at some of the names who were put on the wire in anticipation of the 2024-2025 season.
Pierre Engvall - New York Islanders
Lou Lamoriello is a legendary GM in the history of the NHL however it's safe to say that his swing and a miss on Pierre Engvall could be considered one of his weakest moments. With the 2023 trade deadline approaching, Lamoriello acquired Engvall from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a 3rd-round pick in 2023, a pick that ended up in Vegas through a series of trades.
Engvall only scored 9 points after joining the Islanders and only put together 28 points in 74 games last year. He hasn't looked like he did as a member of the Maple Leafs when he had back to back seasons with 15 and 12 goals respectively. Engvall doesn't provide a lot of defensive versatility and it would be difficult to see him find a spot at his current production; it may be time for the Islanders to cut ties with the Swedish winger.
Some people on Twitter are having fun with the waiver placement, as former Maple Leafs defenseman Justin Holl was also placed on waivers leading to some humorous social media posts:
Marshall Rifai - Toronto Maple Leafs
It was a big surprise to see Marshall Rifai last as long as he did in Maple Leafs camp. Maybe it was due to the litany of injuries, or perhaps he endeared himself to a closer look, but whatever the case was; Rifai played well but not well enough.
The former Harvard University product was part of the ECAC Championship-winning team in 2022 and found himself with an offer from the Maple Leafs soon after he was finished with college. He impressed with his first season in the AHL, playing 69 games and having 16 points; Rifai then found himself called up to the Maple Leafs for a cup of coffee before heading back to the Marlies. Last season he had two goals and 17 assists as he continues to learn and adapt to the professional game.
Rifai played in three preseason games for the Maple Leafs and although he didn't register a point, he made headlines when he leveled Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slavkofsky. Not afraid to drop the gloves or throw his 6'2 frame around, Rifai won't make an impact this year for Toronto (barring a breakout season) but will be a big factor in the years to come.
Hudson Fasching - New York Islanders
Another NCAA product who had high hopes was Hudson Fasching, a power forward born in Minnesota and a hometown hero of sorts, leading the Golden Gophers powerhouse that ended up with three straight championships. Scoring 94 points in 115 games, he translated his collegiate performance into a 4th-round pick by the Los Angeles Kings although he was traded later to Buffalo for a package including Brayden McNabb.
During his time in Buffalo he never got a chance to play, and often found himself on the outside looking in. Even with Rochester, he seemed to struggle at times and only finished with three points in 22 games with Buffalo. Traded then to Arizona, he struggled as well with only 16 games played and no points registered. In 2022 he signed with the New York Islanders and came out of nowhere to score 10 goals and 19 points, signing an extension shortly after.
It felt like Fasching had found his footing in New York, but with Lou Lamoriello ruling Long Island with an iron fist, and not giving much leeway to players; it's not meant to be this season. If he clears waivers he could find himself as a call-up later on.
Zach Aston-Reese - Vegas Golden Knights (claimed by Columbus)
Aston-Reese, an undrafted forward signed by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2017 has found himself in a bit of a career impasse. He's never been a big scoring threat and only reached the 10-goal plateau once in his career, as a member of the Maple Leafs (more on that below). He was injured quite often, and was at the hands of a Tom Wilson bodycheck in the playoffs leaving him with a broken jaw and a concussion; just the first of several ailments through the years.
Traded to Anaheim for Rickard Rakell, he scored three goals and an assist in 17 games before becoming a free agent. Signing a PTO with the Maple Leafs that summer, he earned a spot on the team and had one of his best offensive outputs and had a career-high 10 goals and was a part of a Maple Leafs team to make it past the first round; the first time since 2004.
He bounced around between Detroit and their affiliates in 2023-2024 and often found himself in Grand Rapids more than with the Red Wings. This summer he signed a contract with Vegas, but they must not have had any plans for him in the future and placed him on waivers. It wasn't long though as the Columbus Blue Jackets claimed Aston-Reese off of waivers on Monday:
Jiri Patera - Boston Bruins (claimed by Vancouver)
It's been a wild summer for Patera to say the least. The 6th-round pick of the Vegas Knights in 2017 hasn't played much in the NHL but found himself in the headlines due to the Jeremy Swayman situation with Boston claiming the goaltender a few weeks prior from the Vancouver Canucks. Well, Swayman signed his extension so there was no room for Patera who found himself on waivers soon after.
It didn't take long for Patera to find a home, and it's one he's familiar with. The Vancouver Canucks swooped in and reclaimed their former netminder after the Bruins waived him.
The netminder is 3-3-1 in his career in the NHL and will provide Vancouver with some insurance given that Thatcher Demko has a lingering injury.
Cole Schwindt - Calgary Flames (claimed by Vegas)
The 3rd-round pick of the Florida Panthers has yet to do anything in the NHL, only playing seven games and yet to register his first point. However, he put up solid numbers with Calgary's affiliate after being acquired in the blockbuster Matthew Tkachuk/Jonathan Huberdeau trade. He's put up 28 goals and 40 assists with the Wranglers and didn't have a spot with the Flames going forward.
Vegas took the opportunity to snatch the 23-year-old off waivers and hope to add him into a team where he could slide in with newcomer Tanner Pearson and Brett Howden, or he could end up in Henderson with the Silver Knights alongside Gage Quinney or Mason Geertsen. He's a bit undersized however with some more muscle could find himself in line for a spot in the next few years for Vegas.
Raphael Lavoie - Edmonton Oilers (claimed by Vegas)
Vegas continued their roster frenzy on Monday claiming Oilers forward and former 2nd-round pick Raphael Lavoie off waivers.
Never reaching the heights he was expected to, Lavoie spent most of his time with the Bakersfield Condors; Edmonton's AHL affiliate. Following a successful four seasons with Halifax of the QMJHL where he scored 86 goals and 103 assists before being traded to Chicoutimi, scoring 38 points in 25 games. Edmonton gave him a shot, playing him in seven games last season but never managed any points before being sent down.
Vegas hopes to give him a chance to find his footing and regain the scoring touch he had in juniors, and could find himself alongside fellow waiver claim Cole Schwindt in the AHL; who the Golden Knights also scooped up Monday.
| POLL | ||
Who is the biggest waiver surprise before the NHL season starts? | ||
| Pierre Engvall | 101 | 63.1 % |
| Jiri Patera | 8 | 5 % |
| Marshall Rifai | 32 | 20 % |
| Zach Aston-Reese | 19 | 11.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
