The NHL waivers tracker has become increasingly busy as teams make their final roster decisions before the 2026-27 regular season. With preseason games underway and opening night approaching, clubs around the league are placing large groups of players on waivers as they reduce their training-camp rosters.
Friday brought another major wave of activity. More than 60 players were placed on waivers, while players from previous days either cleared or were claimed by other organizations. The moves are part of the annual preseason roster crunch, when teams must decide which players will remain in the NHL and which will continue their seasons in the American Hockey League.
NHL Waivers Tracker Sees Major Friday Wave
The latest round included 61 players placed on waivers, according to reports tracking the NHL’s daily transactions. The large number reflects how quickly teams are moving with the regular season only days away.
Several clubs made particularly significant cuts.
The Buffalo Sabres were among the busiest teams, placing eight players on waivers. Their group included Ryan Johnson, Trevor Kuntar, Aidan McDonough, Carson Meyer, Jason Polin, Matt Villalta, Mason Geertsen and Dennis Gilbert.
The Boston Bruins also placed five players on the waiver wire, including Brendan Gaunce, Brian Halonen, Jordan Harris, Jiri Patera and Billy Sweezey.
The Carolina Hurricanes had five players on the list as well, including Skyler Brind’Amour, Aleksi Heimosalmi, Juha Jaaska, Pierre-Olivier Joseph and Justin Robidas.
Toronto Continues to Trim Its Roster
The Toronto Maple Leafs have also been active during the preseason roster shuffle.
Toronto placed several players on waivers earlier in the week, including Steven Lorentz, Brendan Brisson, Vinni Lettieri, Michael Pezzetta, Henry Rybinski, Ryan Tverberg, Marshall Rifai and Philippe Myers.
Lorentz was one of the more recognizable names in that group. The veteran forward has been part of Toronto’s bottom-six group and has appeared regularly for the Maple Leafs since joining the organization.
His placement on waivers illustrated the difficult decisions facing teams with crowded rosters. Toronto has a limited number of NHL spots available, forcing management to weigh experience, contracts, development and positional needs.
Several Toronto players subsequently cleared waivers and can continue their seasons in the AHL. NHL.com also reported that Lorentz was placed on waivers for the purpose of assignment to Toronto’s AHL affiliate.
Leevi Merilainen Becomes a Notable Claim
One of the most significant developments from the previous waiver round involved Ottawa Senators goaltender Leevi Merilainen.
Merilainen was placed on waivers by Ottawa and was subsequently claimed by the Vancouver Canucks. The move gave Vancouver another young goaltending option while allowing Ottawa to make room for its preferred depth structure.
Merilainen, 24, appeared in 20 NHL games last season and recorded an 8-10-1 record. His numbers included a 3.51 goals-against average and an .860 save percentage.
Those statistics did not prevent Vancouver from taking a chance on him.
The Canucks have been active in adding younger players who could benefit from additional development time, and Merilainen now gets an opportunity to continue his career in a different organization.
Why Waivers Matter Before Opening Night
The waiver process is one of the most important parts of the NHL preseason.
Players who meet specific experience requirements generally must clear waivers before being assigned to an AHL affiliate. Once a player is placed on waivers, other NHL teams have an opportunity to claim him.
If another club submits a successful claim, the player’s rights move to that organization.
If nobody claims the player, his original team can assign him to the minors, subject to the applicable rules.
That creates a strategic element during roster construction. Teams must decide whether a player is likely to attract interest elsewhere or whether he can safely be moved to the AHL.
More Moves Are Expected
The latest NHL waivers tracker activity is unlikely to be the final major wave.
Training camps are rapidly approaching their conclusion, and teams still have roster spots to resolve. Some clubs are carrying more players than they can keep, while others are monitoring the waiver wire for inexpensive depth.
The preseason has already produced several notable transactions. NHL teams have been making cuts almost daily as coaches evaluate players and management prepares for opening night.
The NHL’s official news feed continues to track preseason developments, roster changes and team updates as the season approaches.
For players, clearing waivers can mean a return to the AHL and another opportunity to develop. For others, being claimed can provide a fresh start and a clearer path toward NHL playing time.
The Final Roster Decisions Are Coming
The final days of preseason are always among the busiest periods of the NHL calendar.
Teams must balance salary-cap considerations, player development, injuries and immediate roster needs. A player who looks like an NHL option in training camp can quickly find himself on the waiver wire when the numbers no longer work.
At the same time, the waiver process can create opportunities.
The Vancouver acquisition of Merilainen is one example of how a player cut by one organization can immediately become part of another team’s plans.
With the 2026-27 season approaching, more names are expected to appear on the waiver wire.
For fans, the NHL waivers tracker provides an early look at which players are being squeezed out of NHL rosters, which organizations are taking chances and how teams are shaping their final lineups before the puck drops on the new season.
The roster deadline may be approaching, but the movement is far from finished.
