Waivers during training camp are a funny thing because teams place players on it with some trepidation that they could see a player claimed and thus cost themselves some organizational depth. So you try to work waivers when you think you can potentially sneak guys down to the AHL without attracting interest from a rival NHL club.
Last season waivers cost the defenceman Johnny Kovacevic who the Jets drafted (2017 3rd) and developed with the Moose. He would go on to play 66 games for the Habs during the 2022-23 campaign.
Yesterday they placed five players on waivers for purposes of assignment to the Moose being:
Ashton Sautner
Jansen Harkins
Jeff Malott
Kristian Reichel
Dominic Toninato
The expectation was that Jansen Harkins was the most likely player from this list to be claimed by an NHL club after he put up 50 points (25G 25A) in 44 games for Manitoba. And that’s just what happened as he goes to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Jets also announced that they would retain Ashton Sautner, Jeff Malott and Dominic Toninato on the Jets roster as the team heads to Calgary but is dealing with illness.
They also assigned Elias Salomonsson and Danny Zhilkin to the Moose.
And the most interesting move of the day might be Salomonsson (Jets 2022 2nd rounder) being sent to the AHL. My presumption was because he’s not a 1st rounder he’d be heading back to Skelleftea when he was feeling healthy due to NHL/SHF Transfer Agreement. Perhaps the Jets and Skelleftea have an agreement. Will find out more tomorrow.
