Leafs’ goaltending takes a hit via waiver claims
Toronto Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock was very much the diplomat after goalies Curtis McElhinney and Calvin Pickard were claimed off waivers Tuesday.
“Good for Mac. Good for Pick,” Babcock said. “Too bad for our depth.”
McElhinney was claimed by the Carolina Hurricanes, whose projected starter Scott Darling is injured and set to miss a few weeks. McElhinney has posted a 62-71-13 record in 10 seasons among six teams.
The Philadelphia Flyers claimed Pickard and placed him on non-roster status, while placing goalie Michal Neuvirth on injured reserve because of a groin injury. Pickard had a 21-9-1 record in helping the Toronto Marlies, the Maple Leafs’ American Hockey League affiliate, win their first championship last season.
Toronto opens the season against Montreal tonight with no experience behind starter Frederik Andersen and backup Garret Sparks. The next in line for now is Kasimir Kaskisuo, who has a 20-14-1 record in 38 AHL games.
“That’s the way it goes,” Babcock said, referring to the waiver system. “You’d love to have them all slip through, but they didn’t.”
Two other players were claimed on a day NHL teams were required to submit their 23-man rosters.
The Washington Capitals added St. Louis forward Dmitrij Jaskin, the odd man out after the Blues restocked their forwards this offseason. Jaskin was St. Louis’ second-round pick in the 2011 draft and has 25 goals and 61 points in 266 games over six seasons.
The Buffalo Sabres claimed left wing Remi Elie from Dallas. The 23-year-old Elie was the Stars’ second-round pick in the 2013 draft. He had six goals and 14 points in his first full season last year. He has seven goals and 21 points in 90 career NHL games.
The Edmonton Oilers signed forward Alex Chiasson and defenceman Jason Garrison to one-year contracts.
Chaisson is a sixth-year player who is on his third team in three seasons after helping the Capitals win a Stanley Cup last season. The 33-year-old Garrison is a 10-year veteran who spent most of last season playing for the Vegas Golden Knights’ minor league affiliate in Chicago.