The Montreal Canadiens are currently managing a roster filled with young talent, many of whom are not yet subject to the NHL’s waiver rules. However, this situation is set to change soon. Waivers are a mechanism in the NHL designed to ensure competitive balance, requiring teams to offer certain players to other teams before demoting them to a lower league. Right now, many of the Canadiens’ young players are waiver-exempt, but several key players will lose this exemption after the 2024-2025 season, or even during it if they surpass the specified number of NHL games played.
The list of players who will soon be waiver-eligible includes Juraj Slafkovsky, Kaiden Guhle, Sean Farrell, Emil Heineman, Arber Xhekaj, and William Trudeau. Each player’s waiver eligibility is determined by the age at which they signed their first NHL contract. For example, players who signed their first contract at 18, 19, or 20 years old can play up to 160 games before becoming waiver-eligible.
In this context, Slafkovsky and Guhle are not immediate concerns for the Canadiens. Both players are expected to secure spots in the lineup under coach Martin St-Louis, which means they will not need to be placed on waivers. However, the situation is different for players like Xhekaj and Jayden Struble. The Canadiens will need to make strategic decisions regarding these players, particularly on defense, to avoid losing them to other teams.
If the Canadiens decide to place Xhekaj or Struble on waivers, there is a strong likelihood that another team would claim them. This risk could influence the Canadiens to keep Struble in the minors this season to preserve his waiver exemption for the next year. Although this strategy could hinder Struble’s immediate development and playing time, it would protect the team from losing him without compensation.
Overall, the waiver rules play a significant role in shaping team rosters and strategies in the NHL. For the Canadiens, the impending waiver eligibility of several young players will necessitate careful planning and decision-making to maintain a competitive and balanced roster while maximizing the potential of their emerging talents.
