Chris Driedger, Raphael Lavoie highlight waivers on NHL’s opening day

On the (sort of) opening day of the NHL season, a few players were placed on waivers.

Waivers today: Driedger, Entwhistle (FLA), Friedman (VCR), Lavoie (LV)

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 8, 2024

The Florida Panthers placed goaltender Chris Dreidger and forward MacKenzie Entwistle on the wire on Tuesday. Both players signed one-year contracts with the defending Stanley Cup champions this past summer.

This is Driedger’s second stint with the Panthers’ organization, signing on with a $795,000 cap hit. The Winnipeg native was with the team from 2018 to 2021, before being taken by the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft. Over two seasons with the Panthers, Driedger made 25 appearances in the NHL, posting a 21-7-4 record, appearing in three games during the 2021 playoffs.

After playing 27 games during the Kraken’s inaugural season, the 30-year-old played in just two games last season, going 1-1-0 with a 2.51 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage.

Entwistle is on a one-year, two-way contract with Florida, the third team he has been associated with in his pro career. The Arizona Coyotes took him in the third round of the 2017 NHL Draft, but he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks before making his pro debut. He has spent the last two seasons solely with the Hawks, scoring five goals and six assists in 67 games last season.

The Vegas Golden Knights placed forward Raphael Lavoie on waivers. The team picked the 24-year-old off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers on Monday, along with grabbing Cole Schwindt from the Calgary Flames. Lavoie had re-signed with the Oilers for another year this past summer after playing seven games with the big club last season. He has spent most of his career with the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors.

The last player to be put on the waivers on Tuesday was defenseman Mark Friedman. The Vancouver Canucks placed the veteran on the wire coming out of camp, almost four months after he signed a one-year, $775,000 contract extension. He was acquired by the Canucks last October from the Pittsburgh Penguins, playing 23 games during the 2023-24 season, registering one assist.