Fantasy Impact: Reviewing the rash of waiver claims in the NHL today.

The Penguins get: Mike Condon

With Matt Murray sidelined due to a broken hand, the Penguins needed a backup. They could have gone with Tristan Jarry as an in-house option but opted to keep him in the minors. This could affect Murray going forward as the Penguins now have the depth to allow him to start out his season in the minors. Don’t expect Condon to fend off Murray for that long, however. Murray should be back before American Thanksgiving.

Still, with how good the Penguins are expected to be, Condon could make a nice play in Daily Fantasy leagues or for spot starts in year-long leagues.

The Devils get: PA Parenteau

Their latest reclamation project! Parenteau has scored at intriguing rates most everywhere that he has played but nowhere better than in his first stint with the Islanders where he paired with John Tavares to produce some excellent seasons.

Parenteau will push guys like Devante Smith-Pelly and Beau Bennett for time on the Devils’ top line alongside Adam Henrique and Taylor Hall. That both of those young RWers have dealt with injuries only bolsters Parenteau’s potential as a top line option. Parenteau could be a 20-goal/50-point option if everything clicks. Remember, what Lee Stempniak produced here last season.

The Wild get: Teemu Pulkkinen

The diminutive forward is one hell of a shooter. While there are questions about his skating ability he has produced goals and shots at a solid rate during brief stints in the NHL. Perhaps the Wild can find a spot for him. On one hand, the Wild lack elite talent at forward. On the other, they have a ton of decent wing options that would seem to leave Pulkkinen buried. They didn’t claim him to not use him but it’s hard to see where exactly Pulkkinen cracks this lineup:

#1           27.8%    COYLE,CHARLIE – PARISE,ZACH – STAAL,ERIC

#2           21.7%    HAULA,ERIK – NIEDERREITER,NINO – STEWART,CHRIS

#3           17.8%    GRANLUND,MIKAEL – KOIVU,MIKKO – POMINVILLE,JASON

#4           17.8%    BERTSCHY,CHRISTOPH – ERIKSSON EK,JOEL – ZUCKER,JASON

The Maple Leafs get: Seth Griffith

Like Pulkkinen in Minnesota this is likely a depth option for the Leafs. Given the youth movement with guys like Mitch Marner and William Nylander getting opportunities right away it seems unlikely that the Leafs will use Griffith until injuries strike. Remember, the Leafs sat on Frank Corrado for much of last season after claiming him off of waivers. Still, Griffith has been a big-time scorer at the AHL level and just needs an opportunity.

The Hurricanes get: Klas Dahlbeck

With the Coyotes offseason additions of Alex Goligoski and rookie Jakob Chychrun there wasn’t much room for depth defenseman Dahlbeck, who had a nice season for folks in leagues counting real time stats like hits and blocks.

He joins a Hurricane team that has already gotten fat on waiver claims such as Martin Frk and the signing of Jakub Nakladal. With Ryan Murphy starting the season injured it seems that Nakladal and Dahlbeck will battle for the sixth defenseman spot on a very young blue line. Not much fantasy relevance here, unless these two can prevent Murphy from grabbing a roster spot when he returns.  

*

Thanks for reading. Follow me @SteveLaidlaw.