Training camp is rolling along and, as always, it brings with it the annual tradition of waiver wire chaos. Tuesday saw a massive wave of roster cuts as NHL clubs start trimming their rosters down to size ahead of the regular season. Fifteen players in total hit the wire, and while most of these names are depth pieces destined for AHL duty, a couple of them might catch the eye of teams looking to bolster their bluelines on the cheap.
The Detroit Red Wings led the charge with six players placed on waivers, including defenseman William Lagesson , forward John Leonard , Sheldon Dries , Dominik Shine , Cameron Butler , and Jacob Bryson . Shine has been a beloved figure in Grand Rapids for a decade and finally got his NHL shot during the 2024-25 campaign, suiting up in 18 games with the big club and potting three goals. Leonard was a scoring machine in the AHL last season, leading the Griffins with 33 goals and 54 points in 47 games while also getting a brief 11-game look with Detroit.
The New York Rangers weren't far behind, waiving four players of their own: defensemen Dennis Cholowski and Urho Vaakanainen , along with centers Justin Dowling and Juuso Parssinen . The Islanders also got in on the action, placing defenseman Ethan Bear and goaltender Henrik Tikkanen on the wire. Rounding out the list were goalie Brandon Halverson from the Dallas Stars , forward Jake Lucchini from the Nashville Predators , and forward Ludwig Persson from the Washington Capitals .
For what it's worth, all five players who were placed on waivers on Monday cleared without being claimed. That group included Chicago 's Derrick Pouliot and several Seattle Kraken players, all of whom are now headed to their respective AHL clubs.
The names that should generate the most intrigue on this list are Vaakanainen and Cholowski, both former first-round draft picks who still have some upside left in their games. Vaakanainen, you might recall, was the key piece coming back to the Rangers in the Jacob Trouba trade. The Finnish defenseman suited up for 34 games in New York last season, chipping in six assists. He's heading into the second year of a two-year deal that carries a very manageable $1.55 million cap hit, which makes him an interesting target for a team that could use some defensive depth without breaking the bank.
Cholowski, meanwhile, is another former first-round blueliner who has bounced around the league looking for a consistent role. Both players represent low-risk, moderate-reward options for clubs that feel they need an extra defenseman heading into the season. Given their pedigree and the fact that they still carry NHL experience, it would not be surprising to see at least one of them get scooped up before they clear.
The waiver deadline for this group hits on Wednesday, so we will know soon enough whether any of the 31 other teams see enough value to put in a claim. In a league where defensive depth can make or break a season, two former first-round picks sitting there for the taking feels like it could be too tempting for someone to pass up.
