Former Leafs prospect placed on waivers a week after being traded
This past week, the Toronto Maple Leafs traded Joey Anderson, Pavel Gogolev, a 2025 first round pick, and a 2026 second round pick to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Jake McCabe, Sam Lafferty, and fifth round picks in 2024 and 2025. Today the Blackhawks announced that they have placed Gogolev on unconditional waivers for purposes of contract termination.
The Maple Leafs signed Gogolev to a three-year entry-level contract in July of 2021. The undrafted prospect scored 6 goals and 12 points in 13 games for the Toronto Marlies after taking part in 12 games with Vasby IK of the Swedish-1st Division. He played 4 years in the OHL with the Peterborough Pets and Guelph Storm before trying to make his way professionally with the Leafs organization.
He did relatively well in the OHL where he scored 90 goals and 182 points in 219 games but couldn't seem to make in-roads even in the AHL. He also played in parts of 2 seasons with the Newfoundland Growlers, where he scored 30 goals and 68 points in only 47 games.
After the trade he only played in 2 games for the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL, where he scored a goal but apparently didn't do enough to impress his new brass.
Mario Tirabassi, who covers the Chicago Blackhawks, tweeted out that this is one less contract the Blackhawks have to worry about or carry on their books as he was most likely not in the plans for either of their NHL or AHL teams. The open contract slot will give way for future NCAA signings.
After news broke out of his termination, he took to Instagram and posted a story that makes it seem like he will be returning to the Newfoundland Growlers of the ECHL as soon as this weekend.
