61 players hit waivers as the Canucks claim a goaltender

The NHL's roster crunch hit full speed on Friday, with nearly fifty players moving through waivers as all 32 teams scrambled to shape their opening night lineups.

Forwards, defensemen and goaltenders from Nashville to Edmonton found their names on the list, a yearly ritual that separates NHL regulars from players ticketed for the minors.

The most notable move came out west, where the Vancouver Canucks claimed goaltender Leevi Merilainen off waivers, adding organizational depth in net as camp battles wind down.

Every other player who hit waivers a day earlier cleared without a claim, according to Friday's tracker update.

Among the players placed on waivers Friday were Oskar Sundqvist of the St. Louis Blues and Jiri Patera of the Boston Bruins, two names with ties to past Stanley Cup runs.

Sundqvist was a third round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins back in 2012, and he won his first championship ring with Pittsburgh in 2016 before a trade to St. Louis eventually led to a second title in 2019.

Patera broke into the league with the Vegas Golden Knights after they took him in the sixth round of that franchise's very first draft in 2017.

He has bounced between organizations since, and Boston is now the fourth team to give him a look.

Other notable names on Friday's list include Hunter Skinner, plus Blues depth pieces Jack Finley and Nathan Walker.

Buffalo added a wave of names as well, waiving Ryan Johnson, Jason Polin and several other minor league regulars.

Players who clear waivers can be assigned to the minors without exposure again this season, while those claimed report to their new club right away.

With opening night closing in fast, more moves are expected before rosters lock in for good.

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