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Surprise! Just one day after the Vegas Golden Knights claimed Raphael Lavoie off the waiver wire from the Edmonton Oilers, they have already provided what Craig MacTavish famously called a “second opinion”. Namely, that their new acquisition does not project to making their NHL squad. They underscored that conclusion by placing Lavoie back on waivers today.
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First question is, what are the Golden Knights doing here? Worth noting that they were one of the involved teams in all three waiver claims made on Monday, losing Zach Aston-Reese to Columbus, while claiming both Cole Schwindt from Calgary and Lavoie from Edmonton. All are forwards.
Best guess here is that the Vegans put in two claims hoping that one would be successful. In the end both were. And while both Lavoie and Schwindt fit on the declared season-opening roster, there is speculation that the club intends to recall Brendan Brisson in advance of the season opener. A waiver-exempt young player, Brisson was technically moved from Vegas to Henderson to make room for the two new adds.
Meaning Vegas had to choose between the two newcomers and have apparently done so.
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No doubt they would be happy for Lavoie to clear waivers and join their AHL team, the Henderson Silver Knights. The big winger finished tenth in the AHL in goals with 28 last season, just turned 24, and is on a team-friendly two-way contract with the high end being NHL minimum.
The Oilers have their own reasons not to allow that to happen. The play for the locals is to place their own claim on the player in whom they have invested a second-round draft pick and five years of development. If that claim is successful and another team or teams bbelow them in the pecking order also puts in a claim, then Lavoie would need to be placed back on the roster or waived yet again. If, however, the Oilers turned out to be the only team to claim him, the effect would be the same as if he had cleared in the first place in that all 31 other teams including Vegas will have passed on him.
Here’s the relevant section of the CBA:
There are zero guarantees that no other club puts in a claim, but it’s a fairly likely outcome. Meaning the Oilers would be able to directly assign Lavoie to Bakersfield.
The purpose of the waiver rule is to prevent teams from “burying” players in the minors who might be good enough to play elsewhere in the NHL. But having claimed him, Vegas is not offering this player that opportunity, but are effectively trying to stack their own minor league club. The onus is surely on the Oilers to prevent that from happening.
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In the meantime, expect more news on the registration of the Cameron Wright contract with the league, his temporary addition to the roster to max out camp space, and then the designation of Evander Kane on LTIR. After that, other moves including the return of both Wright and Matt Savoie to Bakersfield for reasons explained here. Oil fans should also expect the signing of defenceman Travis Dermott to an NHL contract after what seems to have been a successful Professional Tryout in camp. These moves have to occur in a specific sequence to legalize everything. Worth noting that a claim of Lavoie and any related fallout would not occur until noon tomorrow.
In other news, Jeff Skinner and Mattias Janmark switched spots again at practice today, placing both back with their expected linemates.
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