Canucks looking to add to roster? Former first-round pick among two placed on NHL's waivers today

There was some activity on the waiver wire in the National Hockey League on Sunday, with an intriguing name placed on it by the New York Islanders at 2 pm ET.

According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, former first-round pick and current New York Islander Julien Gauthier, along with New Jersey Devils forward Adam Beckman, have been placed on waivers for the purpose of being assigned to their respective American Hockey League affiliate.

Gauthier, 27, was selected in the first round, 21st overall by the Carolina Hurricanes back in 2016 and has never really lived up to the hype and expectation that comes with being a first-rounder.

In 181 career NHL games with the Carolina Hurricanes, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators and New York Islanders, the Pointe-aux-Trembles, Quebec native has 41 points (19 goals, 22 assists), 44 penalty minutes and is a minus-25.

As for Adam Beckman, who was a third-round pick of the Minnesota Wild back in 2019, he has yet to suit up this season for the New Jersey Devils after suffering a lower-body injury back in September ahead of training camp. He was unable to participate in camp or any preseason games, but being put on waivers is a good sign that he's able to get into action down in the American Hockey League.

The 23-year-old was acquired by the Devils from the Minnesota Wild back in June in exchange for Graeme Clarke. In 11 NHL games last season, Beckman had two assists, meanwhile he registered 33 points (19 goals, 14 assists) in 51 games for the AHL's Iowa Wild.

It's going to be interesting to see if Julien Gauthier is claimed off waivers tomorrow at 2 pm ET. With 181 games of experience at the NHL level, he could be a valuable asset for a team's bottom-six forward group. Until November 1st, the San Jose Sharks have the first crack at making a waiver claim by virtue of finishing dead-last in the NHL during the 2023-24 season. For Patrik Allvin and the Vancouver Canucks, they're pretty low on the waiver order, coming it at 27th.