NHL Insider Believes The Vancouver Canucks May Lose Forward On Waivers Today

PUBLICATION

Cooper Godin
November 3, 2024 (8:40)

SHARE THIS STORY

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman shared an interested update after the Vancouver Canucks placed Nils Aman on waivers on Saturday afternoon.

Action has begun to pick up around the National Hockey League on the trade market over the last week and a half, but could we see our first waiver claim since the 2024-25 season got underway? One insider believes that it could be possible.

Elliotte Friedman believes Canucks may lose Nils Aman

During the Saturday Headlines segment on Hockey Night in Canada, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman spoke about the Vancouver Canucks, who earlier in the day placed Swedish forward Nils Aman on waivers with the hope that he'll clear and they can assign him to the Abbotsford Canucks of the American Hockey League.

"General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that F Nils Aman has been placed on waivers for the purpose of assignment to Abbotsford (AHL)."

Friedman said that it wouldn't be a surprise to him if a team placed a waiver claim on Nils Aman before 11 am PT on Sunday. He went on to say that because Aman is a center, there's a greater chance of a waiver claim happening.

"In Vancouver, the Canucks put Nils Aman on waivers today. I think everybody realizes here there's a possibility he gets claimed. Centers are hard to find." Friedman said.

Friedman also wondered if the Nils Aman waiver placement means that Dakota Joshua is close to returning to the Vancouver Canucks lineup after missing training camp and the first month of the season. Joshua has been out of the lineup since announcing that he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and has been undergoing treatment.

"We wonder if that means Dakota Joshua is close to returning, which would be great news for Joshua and the Canucks."

Top prospects in Abbotsford on Vancouver's radar

The Abbotsford Canucks have had a pretty good start to the season. They currently sit third in the Pacific Division with a record of 5-3-1 through nine games and are getting contributions up and down their lineup, including from top prospects Jonathan Lekkerimaki and Aatu Raty.

Elliotte Friedman mentioned last night that the Vancouver Canucks may be getting ready to give some looks to youngsters in Abbotsford and named Aatu Raty and Jonathan Lekkerimaki as possibilities to be called up.

"Also there's a belief that Vancouver is prepared to give some looks to some of their younger players at AHL Abbotsford, who have been playing well. If you've watched them, you've seen guys like Aatu Raty and their 2022 first-rounder Jonathan Lekkerimaki, who Bieksa saw this weekend and liked, have been playing very well. So it wouldn't be a surprise if either of those players are on the Canucks radar." Friedman said.

Raty currently leads the Abbotsford Canucks in points with five (three goals, two assists) in seven games, while Jonathan Lekkerimaki is not far behind, sitting at four points (two goals, two assists) in seven games.

Both Raty and Lekkerimaki would give the Canucks a big boost if they're called up, but it also depends on the situation and where they'll be playing in Vancouver's lineup. If they're called up and put in a fourth-line role playing less than ten minutes a night, it might be better off to leave them in Abbotsford for the time being.