Thursday, October 2, 2025, saw a flurry of activity on the NHL waiver wire as teams made final roster adjustments ahead of the rapidly approaching regular season. A total of 22 players were placed on waivers, providing opportunities for other teams to scoop up potential talent.
The Tampa Bay Lightning claimed goaltender Pheonix Copley from the Los Angeles Kings. Copley, 33, provides the Lightning with goaltending depth as Andrei Vasilevskiy recovers from an injury. He could also challenge Jonas Johansson for the backup role. Copley has a career record of 44-16-8 with a .898 save percentage and a 2.84 goals-against average in 77 NHL games with the Kings, Washington Capitals, and St. Louis Blues. Last season, he played 42 games for the Ontario Reign in the AHL, posting a 24-17-1 record, a .904 save percentage and a 2.49 goals-against average.
Several other notable players were placed on waivers:
- Danton Heinen (Pittsburgh Penguins): The veteran forward with over 500 NHL games of experience was placed on waivers by Pittsburgh. Heinen, 30, is a pending unrestricted free agent with a $2.25 million cap hit. He split the previous season between Vancouver and Pittsburgh, recording 29 points in 79 games.
- Vitali Kravtsov (Vancouver Canucks): The former ninth-overall pick was waived by Vancouver after failing to record a point in two pre-season games. Kravtsov, 25, had returned to the Canucks after spending two seasons in the KHL.
- Ivan Prosvetov (Calgary Flames): Calgary placed the goaltender on waivers after he signed with the team in July. Prosvetov, 26, had a .875 save percentage and a 3.96 goals-against average in three pre-season games.
- Rory Kerins (Calgary Flames): Kerins has been a promising prospect in the Flames' system, showcasing strong performances in the AHL. He played five NHL games last season, recording four assists and a +3 rating.
- Other Players: The list of players placed on waivers also included Daemon Hunt (Columbus Blue Jackets), Cam Dineen and Riley Stillman (Edmonton Oilers), Sebastian Aho (defenseman), Philip Kemp, Joona Koppanen, Filip Larsson, and Valtteri Puustinen (Pittsburgh Penguins), Ben Meyers and Mitchell Stephens (Seattle Kraken), Ben McCartney and Scott Perunovich (Utah Mammoth), Dylan Coghlan, Tanner Laczynski, Raphael Lavoie, Jaycob Megna, and Cole Schwindt (Vegas Golden Knights).
The waiver wire provides teams with an opportunity to acquire players who may fit their system or fill a specific need. It also allows teams to send players to the American Hockey League (AHL) without the risk of losing them to another NHL team. Players on entry-level contracts are typically waiver-exempt, giving teams more flexibility with those players.
Several other transactions and roster moves occurred recently:
- The Edmonton Oilers acquired goalie Connor Ingram from the Utah Mammoth for future considerations.
- Niko Mikkola (Florida Panthers) signed an 8-year, $40 million contract extension.
- Luke Hughes (New Jersey Devils) signed a 7-year, $63 million contract extension.
With the regular season approaching, teams are continuing to finalize their rosters and make strategic decisions to improve their chances of success. The waiver wire and the trade market remain active as teams seek to add depth, address weaknesses, and create a competitive advantage.
