Oilers’ Sam Gagner, Canucks’ Guillaume Brisebois highlight March 5 waivers

A number of players have been placed on waivers, including one notable veteran.

The Edmonton Oilers put forward Sam Gagner on the wire on Tuesday. The 34-year-old signed with the team after the regular season started, beginning his third tour of duty with the Oilers.

The former London Knight has had a decent season thus far, considering him being used as a bottom-six player on a talented Edmonton team. Through 27 games, Gagner has scored five goals and five assists, with his last goal coming back on Jan. 20 against the Calgary Flames. He was in the lineup for the Oilers’ 6-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins this past Sunday after being held out in the previous five games.

Gagner is currently on a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Oilers. If he clears, he could be optioned to Edmonton’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors.

Another player put on waivers on Tuesday was Vancouver Canucks defenseman Guillaume Brisebois. General manager Patrik Allvin said the 26-year-old was put on the wire with the intention of him joining the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks.

General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that D Guillaume Brisebois has been placed on waivers for the purpose of assignment to Abbotsford (AHL).

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) March 5, 2024

Briesbois had returned to practicing with Vancouver this past weekend after beginning the season on long-term injured reserve. He is in the first year of a two-year contract with an AAV of $775,000.

Briesbois played 17 games with the Canucks last season, scoring a goal and two assists.

Also, Carolina Hurricanes forward Maxime Comtois might be heading back down to the minors. The 25-year-old just signed a two-way contract with the team on Monday with an AAV of $775,000. The former Anaheim Duck did not start the season in the NHL despite receiving a PTO with the Vegas Golden Knights during the preseason. In 45 games with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, Comtois has scored 12 goals and 16 assists.

The Minnesota Wild placed forwards Vinnit Lettieri and Jacob Lucchini on waivers after both spent the last few months with the team.

Lettieri has played 32 games this season, scoring three goals and four assists. The 29-year-old missed 14 games in January after being placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. He is in the first year of a two-year contract with the Wild, carrying a $775,00 cap hit.

Lucchini has played in 21 games this season, scoring a goal and an assist for Minnesota. He is on a one-year deal with an AAV of $775,000.

If both players clear, they will rejoin Minnesota’s primary affiliate, the Iowa Wild.