On Sunday, the Boston Bruins waived three veteran players as the team looks to get salary cap complaint before Monday’s 5 pm Eastern time deadline. Left-wing Nick Foligno, right-wing Chris Wagner, and defenseman Mike Reilly were all placed on waivers. Any team can now claim any of these players and assume their salaries.
Foligno was signed last off-season to a two-year contract with a cap hit of $3.8 million annually. The left-wing will turn 35 on Halloween and produced only three goals in a disappointing first season in Boston. The Buffalo native was the 28th overall pick in 2006. It is likely that Foligno will not be claimed and could begin the season in Providence of the American Hockey League.
Wagner is in year three of a three-year deal with Boston worth $1.35 million annually. Wagner spent most of last season in Providence after clearing waivers. The Walpole, Massachusetts native played 62 games in Providence with 32 points and just one regular season game with Boston. The former fifth-round pick in 2010 played three postseason games with the Bruins in the first round against Carolina.
Reilly was a bit of a surprise on the waiver wire. This is the second year of a three-year deal with Boston. Reilly has a cap hit of $3 million per year and has been the topic of trade rumors lately. The Bruins are looking to sign veteran defenseman Anton Stralman to a deal after inviting the former Arizona Coyote to a Professional Tryout Offer (PTO) in camp. The Bruins also expect the return of defenseman Matt Grzelcyk from off-season shoulder surgery soon.
The Bruins will now wait and see who clears waivers. If all three clear, the Bruins can only get up to $1.125 million in cap space per contract, forcing the team to waive multiple players to get cap compliant and give them room to sign Stralman.
