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Avalanche Place Two Defensemen on Waivers as Roster Takes Shape
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- Avalanche Place Two Defensemen on Waivers as Roster Takes Shape
The Colorado Avalanche are trimming their blue line as training camp winds down.
Colorado placed defensemen Christian Wolanin and Domenick Fensore on waivers Wednesday afternoon, putting both players in position to be claimed by any of the NHL's other 31 teams over the next 24 hours. Assuming they clear, both will be reassigned.
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For the Avalanche, the move is part of the final roster shuffle before the regular season. Both defensemen signed one-year, two-way contracts with Colorado this summer and were brought in to provide organizational depth.
The 31-year-old Wolanin has spent most of his career bouncing between the NHL and AHL. The 2015 fourth-round pick has appeared in 79 NHL games with the Ottawa Senators , Los Angeles Kings , Vancouver Canucks , Buffalo Sabres and St. Louis Blues , recording six goals and 23 points. He hasn't played in an NHL game since appearing in 16 games for Vancouver during the 2022-23 season.
The bulk of Wolanin's production has come in the AHL. He put up 55 points in just 49 games with the Abbotsford Canucks in 2022-23 and followed that with another productive season before recording 31 points in 53 games with the Providence Bruins last year.
Fensore, meanwhile, is still trying to establish himself as an NHL regular. The 25-year-old defenseman was selected 90th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2019 NHL Draft and has appeared in just three NHL games. He spent last season with the AHL's Chicago Wolves, where he led the team's defensemen with 35 points in 60 games.
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Both players now have to wait and see whether another NHL team makes a claim. If they go unclaimed, they'll continue their seasons with the Eagles, remaining available as potential call-up options for Colorado when injuries or roster needs arise.
The Avalanche are set to play in their third of four preseason matchups on Saturday when they face the Winnipeg Jets at Ball Arena. Puck drop is at 6:30 p.m.
