The Canadiens were in the middle of a game against the New York Rangers when the insider Renaud Lavoie announced that Raphael Harvey-Pinard was placed on waivers.
The forward spent the start of the season on the Injury Reserve and joined the Rocket Laval in the AHL for a two-week conditioning stint.
The period allowed for players returning from injuries to go in the AHL ended today, and the team wanted him to remain there, forcing management to put him through waivers.
Harvey-Pinard, the Montreal Canadiens 201st overall pick in 2019 was limited to 45 games last season due to injuries and tallied only 10 points.
He had the best NHL run of his career in the 2022-23 season when he scored 20 points, including 14 goals, in 34 games.
The Quebec native is a fan-favourite in Montreal. He plays with high determination, passion, and commitment to the team's success.
There's no doubt that he'll be able to land on his feet wherever he ends up playing, but unfortunately, I believe chances are slim that he'll remain in Montreal.
Teams across the NHL are looking for guys like him, and they don't come around often on waivers.
He is currently in the final season of his two-year, $1,100,000 AAV deal. If he gets a chance to play in the NHL this season, he could be in a great position to earn much more for his next contract.
However, considering all his injuries and his limited ice time in the past years, teams, including the Canadiens, will likely be cautious about signing him to what is likely going to be a bridge deal.
It'll be interesting to see how the player develops over the coming years.
Meanwhile, stay tuned for further developments regarding NHL waivers.
POLL | ||
Do you think Raphael Harvey-Pinard will be claimed off waivers? | ||
Yes | 38 | 46.9 % |
No | 43 | 53.1 % |
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