Insider Reveals Outcome of Oilers Placed on Waivers Before Regular Season

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Liam McCormick
October 7, 2024 (10:45)

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The Edmonton Oilers placed four players on waivers yesterday, hoping that a few would sneak through without being claimed.

According to Mark Spector, the Oilers did not make any waiver claims themselves, and their players will not be claimed by another team.

UPDATE:
Unfortunately, Spector's report did not hold up, and the Edmonton Oilers lost forward Raphael Lavoie on waivers.

The Edmonton Oilers waived 4 players yesterday, notably including defenceman Josh Brown, forward prospect Raphael Lavoie, and goalie Olivier Rodrigue. Waiving Josh Brown was an admission that signing him in free agency was a mistake, but the Oilers were surely hoping that Lavoie and Rodrigue would slip through.

Lavoie is a 24 year old forward and a second round draft pick of the Oilers in 2019. He's put up impressive numbers in AHL games and had an impressive preseason, but there's just no room for him on the roster behind so many veteran players. Some insiders said it may be very unlikely that Lavoie would clear waivers, and that the Oilers should consider trading him. Thankfully he's cleared waivers, and now the Oilers could trade him as a valuable asset - and to do right by Lavoie and get him a fresh opportunity elsewhere. It could've been a costly mistake to lose a valuable player for nothing.

The Oilers were also connected to making a claim themselves on waivers, but that looks like it won't come to pass. Reporters noticed connections between Rangers defenceman Matthew Robertson and the Oilers, but Edmonton chose not to make a claim. The Calgary Flames also waived prospect Jakob Pelletier, and one former scout heavily recommended the Oilers to make a claim.

With the NHL's opening roster deadline now passing, the Oilers have got their opening night lineup officially set. The puck drops on the Oilers regular season October 9th at home against the Winnipeg Jets.