Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
An Edmonton Oilers prospect is back on the NHL waiver wire yet again.
Left winger Raphael Lavoie is one of three players placed on waivers on Thursday, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Washington Capitals right winger Spencer Smallman and Winnipeg Jets goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen are the others.
Waivers:
Lavoie (EDM)
Smallman (WASH)
Kahkonen (WIN)— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 10, 2024
The Oilers first placed 24-year-old Lavoie on waivers on Sunday, and the Vegas Golden Knights claimed him on Monday. Vegas then put him back on waivers on Tuesday to try to assign him to the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights. The Oilers stopped that plan, reclaiming him on Wednesday.
But another team that was above the Oilers in the regular-season standings last year also put in a claim for Lavoie, according to PuckPedia. That meant the Oilers couldn’t assign Lavoie to the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors without having him go through waivers again.
That means the Golden Knights or another squad can claim Lavoie for the third time in five days.
Lavoie played his first seven NHL games last season, recording four shots and averaging 7:17 of ice time without logging a point. But with the Condors last season, Lavoie had 28 goals and 22 assists for 50 points in 66 games. He’s the Oilers’ fourth-top prospect, per The Hockey News Yearbook.
Kahkonen, meanwhile, joined the Jets on July 1 on a one-year, $1-million contract after playing for the San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils last year. He posted a combined 7-24-3 record with a .898 save percentage and 3.64 goals-against average in 37 games played.
The catch is the Jets also picked up Eric Comrie on July 1 for a two-year contract worth $825,000 annually. Winnipeg has $986,586 in cap space, per PuckPedia. Kahkonen played two pre-season games, recording a 3.02 GAA and .891 SP, while Comrie had a 2.94 GAA and .893 SP in one game.
As for Smallman, he’s yet to play an NHL game, but he recorded 12 goals and 21 points in 53 games last season for the AHL’s Colorado Eagles.
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