Y2K bug

Whether you turn off your computer or not the day before, doomsday is coming. And it’s coming in the form of pre-season waivers for the first time ever in the RHL. All players born 12/31/1999 or before will have to be offered to all 31 other teams before being sent down to your farm team. Hopefully, done will be the days of legit NHLers snagging all AHL awards and bringing teams to Calder cup victories *wink wink 2024 Dan Vladar (PLAYOFF MVP + REGULAR SEASON MVP + BEST GOALTENDER + GOALTENDER WITH 25+ GAMES FOR TEAM WITH FEWEST GOALS ALLOWED). For teams using to hoarding talents up to the cupboards, this new thing is a nightmare.

We’re allowed to think some exciting players might hit the waiver wire in the days leading to the opening of the regular season and using last year’s regular season standings, this should be the order for teams to grab players : 

1. Washington Capitals

2. St Louis Blues

3. Calgary Flames

4. Utah Hockey Club

5. Boston Bruins

6. Vancouver Canucks

7. Vegas Golden Knights

8. New York Rangers

9. Buffalo Sabres

10. Tampa Bay Lightning

11. Carolina Hurricanes

12. Edmonton Oilers

13. Minnesota Wild

14. New York Islanders

15. Los Angeles Kings

16. Detroit Red Wings

17. Philadelphia Flyers

18. Montreal Canadiens

19. San Jose Sharks

20. Florida Panthers

21. Ottawa Senators

22. Anaheim Ducks

23. Dallas Stars

24. Nashville Predators

25. Pittsburgh Penguins

26. Columbus Blue Jackets

27. Chicago Blackhawks

28. Toronto Maple Leafs

29. Winnipeg Jets

30. New Jersey Devils

31. Seattle Kraken

32. Colorado Avalanche

What kind of players exactly can we expect to see claimed in this all new process ? Expect many replacement level veterans to be placed on waivers, but also some quite interesting young players, not quite at the level of playing pro games everyday but missing the Y2K threshold by a few days or months. Our investigation team dug into a few depth charts to preview candidates to hit the wire.

We looked at 43 players born in 1999 currently on RHL teams and signed to an NHL contract, rated 63 OV or under and pulled 5 who are likely to be highly sought after should they be put on waivers.

ANA - Isac Lundestrom - 63OV- DOB : 11/6/1999

With already 13 forwards rated 66 OV or higher, Lundestrom will be a quack of a puzzle in Anaheim. 

CGY - Ronnie Attard - 63 OV - DOB : 3/20/1999

The Flames defenseman now ranks 10th on the defense depth chart, but many guys in front of him were born in the new millennium, so it could make sense to keep Ronald as a 7th defenseman for a while.

CBJ - Mackenzie Entwistle - 62 OV - DOB : 7/14/1999

Entwistle isn’t anywhere pro roster worthy for the powerhouse and recent Stanley Cup winning Blue Jackets. 100% expect him to hit the waiver wire before the season begins.

LAK - Trey Fix-Wolansky - 62 OV - DOB : 5/26/1999

If the Kings decide to carry 13 forwards this season, the final cut should be decided between Fix-Wolansky and Julien Gauthier, two options worth looking at as waivers pickups. Will the Kings decide to go 14 forwards at the risk of benching guys for prolonged stretch of games ?

SJS - Jack St. Ivany - 62 OV - DOB : 7/22/1999

One of the original prospects GM BRRR inherited with the team in 2020, St. Ivany is closing in to the NHL but still isn’t there yet with rating well below other 6th or 7th D options in San Jose. Will the Sharks risk losing a long time prospect on the brink of turning pro or will they rather have him look at games from the rafters all year in order to keep his rights ?