Perry Nelson-Imagn images
The Vegas Golden Knights announced they claimed left winger Raphael Lavoie off NHL waivers from the Edmonton Oilers. And yes, that already happened on Monday, but they did it again on Friday.
The Golden Knights initially claimed the 24-year-old off waivers on Monday, when the Oilers waived him for the first time to round out their season-opening NHL roster. On Tuesday, Vegas waived Lavoie in an attempt to assign him to the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights, but the Oilers reclaimed him on Wednesday.
Because another team higher in the NHL standings last year also filed a claim for Lavoie, the Oilers were higher in the pecking order to get Lavoie, but were not allowed to assign him to AHL Bakersfield without having to reapply for waivers . So on Thursday, Lavoie went back to the waiver wire.
Vegas did it again. Lavoie was exempted for the third time this week. However, this time it is different.
Apparently no other team has tried to claim Lavoie this time around, as the Golden Knights have announced that he is going to the Silver Knights this time. Since they lost him to waivers but reclaimed him without another team filing a claim, he doesn’t have to clear waivers again.
This provides some clarity about Lavoie’s future for the time being. He played his first seven NHL games last season and has yet to record a point at the highest level. However, he scored 28 goals and 50 points in 66 games for the Condors last season, and he can work to convince Vegas of a call-up later this year.
Lavoie was Edmonton’s fourth top prospect and according to The Hockey News Yearbook, he was expected to join the NHL full-time in 2025-26.
Related: Despite a perceived lack of loyalty, Jack Eichel says Vegas is ‘the place you want to be’
In other NHL waiver news, the Colorado Avalanche announced they had claimed goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen from the Winnipeg Jets on Friday. Kahkonen had an .898 save percentage and a 3.64 goals-against average in 37 games for the San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils last season.
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