The Buffalo Sabres have put defenseman Jack Rathbone on waivers, opening a 24-hour window for the rest of the NHL to decide whether they want to take a shot on him.
Elliotte Friedman first reported the move on X, and it comes a day after the New York Rangers placed goaltender James Reimer on waivers. Reimer cleared today after no team made a claim.
Rathbone, 27, was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the fourth round, 95th overall, in the 2017 NHL Draft. He has appeared in just 28 NHL games, with two goals and three assists, and he has not played in the NHL this season.
His contract carries an $850,000 cap hit and runs through the end of the season, when he will become an unrestricted free agent. That makes him a low-cost depth option for any club looking to add help on the blue line.
For the Canadiens, though, there does not appear to be much urgency. Montreal is 10-3-3, good for sixth in the NHL and second in the Atlantic Division.
The Canadiens’ defense was part of the story again in last night’s 5-4 overtime win over Utah. Lane Hutson had two assists and logged more than 27 minutes, Noah Dobson added two helpers, and Adam Engstrom and Arber Xhekaj each scored.
With Montreal rolling, Hughes has already shown little appetite for making a waiver claim. He passed on both Danton Heinen and Emil Andrae earlier this week when they were available.
Montreal visits Toronto on Saturday, and Rathbone’s situation will be resolved before then. If he clears, he stays with the Sabres, who host the Blue Jackets tonight.
In Other News...
Canadiens Game Just Took A Turn After Key Utah Blue-Liner Exit
The game against Utah took an abrupt turn when the Mammoth lost veteran defenseman Nate Schmidt in the second period. Schmidt, who brings plenty of NHL experience to the blue line, was ruled out with an upper-body injury, leaving Utah to finish the night without one of its more established defenders.
For Montreal, it changes the look of the matchup in a hurry, especially with a seasoned blueliner suddenly out of the picture. Utah did not offer any further detail on when Schmidt was hurt or how serious the issue might be, so the full impact of the exit remains unclear as the game unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Fans Have Every Reason To Watch Ottawa's Laine Push
Patrik Laines name has lingered in the rumor mill for months, and now theres another reason for Montreal fans to keep one eye on Ottawa. The winger remains unsigned, but reports that he was seen at Ottawas airport have only added fuel to the speculation that the Senators could still be in the mix for a player whose finishing touch would be hard to ignore.
Senators general manager Steve Staios reportedly explored signing Laine over the offseason, which makes the fit easy to understand from Ottawas side. The power-play need is obvious, and Laines scoring ability would give the Senators a different look if they decide to keep pushing on this front, even if there has been no official confirmation about his status or the purpose of the trip. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Linked To Defenseman Who Could Reshape Their Blue Line
The Canadiens blue line has been a talking point all season, and now a new name has entered the conversation. Simon Edvinsson, the Detroit Red Wings defenseman who remains unsigned, has drawn interest around the league, and reports from The Fourth Period have linked Montreal to the situation as teams continue to monitor what could become one of the more intriguing defensive storylines on the market.
For Montreal, the appeal is obvious. The club has been assessing its current defensive roster with an eye toward both immediate stability and longer-term upside, and Edvinssons profile makes him a natural fit to at least consider. Nothing has been finalized, and no trade has been confirmed, but the Canadiens are clearly among the teams watching closely as this develops. [Read more 🡒]