More than 40 names on waivers today, with 2 former Maple Leafs among them

A few interesting names to note during the purge include former Toronto Maple Leafs in Nicolas Aube-Kubel (WSH) and Ben Harpur (NYR) as well as former first round pick from the Florida Panthers in Grigori Denisenko.

After spending 7 seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers and part of one season with the Colorado Avalanche, Aube-Kubel was signed by the Maple Leafs on a one-year deal in the summer of 2022. He was shortly placed on waivers and scooped up by the Capitals last season. He went pointless in 6 games for the Blue and White and added 12 points in 47 games for Washington.

Harpur spent part of the 2019-20 season with the Toronto Marlies where he scored 11 points in 34 games before being traded to the Nashville Predators ahead of the trade deadline. He spent 2 full seasons within the Predators organization before joining the Rangers last season.

Meanwhile, Denisenko was drafted with the 15th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft by Florida but never seemed to pan out. He played in parts of 3 seasons with the big club, took part in 26 games, and recorded 7 assists. He spent most of his time in the minors with the Charlotte Checkers, where he sported his best season to date with 36 points in 56 games.

With so many former 1st rounders already having cleared waivers, teams appear to be getting a little more risky with waiver placements now, believing that even their higher draft picks will pass through, unclaimed. Will we see Denisenko follow suit with Cal Foote, Alex Nylander and Ty Smith before him and clear waivers? Or will we see him plucked off the waiver wire tomorrow by a team who views him as a nice building block? We'll have to wait and see