Friedman has ties to new Penguins' GM Ron Hextall, who drafted Friedman while he was the GM of the Flyers in 2014. The 25-year-old defenseman has appeared in just 11 NHL games since then, picking up one assist.
The Kings lost Grosenick on waivers to the Oilers in mid-January but re-claimed the 31-year-old netminder on Saturday. The Oilers waiving him suggests that Mike Smith will be ready to re-join the active roster soon.
Edmonton was in trouble with Mike Smith going on LTIR and Anton Forsberg getting claimed off of waivers but claiming Grosenick gives them a veteran backup with a little NHL experience. The 31-year-old went 20-9-3 with a 2.29 GAA and .920 SV% in 33 AHL games a season ago and most likely leaps over Stuart Skinner as the Oilers’ new No.2 netminder.
Forsberg was originally claimed off of waivers by the Hurricanes as insurance before they waived Alex Nedeljkovic but with Nedeljkovic clearing, they no longer needed Forsberg. Winnipeg lost Eric Comrie on waivers last week, so Forsberg fills their No.3 goalie hole.
Sbisa will turn 31 in late-January and is now with his fifth team since 2017. Sbisa has registered six goals and 32 assists (38 points) in 165 games with the Canucks, Golden Knights, Islanders and Jets over that span.
Comrie continues to work his way around the NHL. He was drafted by the Jets in the second round in 2013 but has been claimed by Arizona, Detroit and then back to Winnipeg since 2019 and is on the move again in 2021. The Devils were shocked by the retirement of Corey Crawford last week, so Comrie will battle with Scott Wedgewood for the backup role to Mackenzie Blackwood. Comrie is 2-5-0 with a 4.23 GAA and .868 SV% in eight career NHL games.
Balcers was originally a fifth-round pick of the Sharks but was traded to the Senators as a part of the Erik Karlsson deal in 2018. He appeared in 51 career games with the Senators, scoring six goals with 11 assists (17 points), and now returns to San Jose where he could work his way into a bottom-6 role.
The Hurricanes put Alex Nedeljkovic on waivers on Tuesday, so they claimed Forsberg in case they lose Nedeljkovic tomorrow. Forsberg was with the Hurricanes last year, going 1-1-0 while allowing eight goals on 78 shots (.897 SV%) in three games. He signed with the Oilers this offseason but was waived Monday.
Juulsen was a first-round pick (No.26 overall) in 2015 but only played in 44 NHL games since. Juulsen has dealt with headache issues in recent years, last year playing just 13 games with Laval (AHL). Still, he is just 23-years-old and has a bright future as long as he can stay healthy and on the ice.
Forsling is familiar with new Panthers bench boss Joel Quenneville from their days together in Chicago. Forsling has had a tough time becoming a full-time player in the NHL, never playing more than 43 games in a single-season (2019). He has 27 points (8G / 19A) in 122 career NHL games and will likely continue to serve a similar, fringe roster player role in Florida.
Djoos, who was originally a seventh-round pick of the Capitals in 2012, has appeared in 119 career NHL games with Washington and Anaheim. Djoos is a modern-day NHL defenseman, who is mobile and a solid puck-mover from the back-end. He has 27 points (5G / 22A) in his brief NHL career thus far and will likely be the seventh defenseman in Detroit.
Agozzino has just one goal and six assists in 38 career NHL games. The 29-year-old forward registered two assists in 17 games with the Penguins this season.
The 23-year-old Ukrainian was a fifth-round selection of the Maple Leafs in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. While he had been a frequent scratch of late, Timashov earned a full-time roster spot this season after three productive years with the Marlies (AHL). He has four goals and five assists in 39 games this season.
