Helge Grans has landed on NHL waivers, leaving Philadelphia Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet facing another decision on his blue line.
A right-handed defenseman with potential can catch the eye of any team in the NHL as they are hard to come by.
The Flyers placed the Swedish defenseman on waivers Monday, opening the possibility of losing a former second-round pick to another NHL club without a trade.
Selected 35th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in 2020, Grans once carried considerable promise. That draft status won't shield him from waiver claims.
He stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 205 pounds, giving him the frame teams value in a depth defenseman. That physical profile could attract interest from clubs seeking another option.
His NHL résumé is still short, with 7 career appearances and 1 assist. The upside argument now rests more on his potential than on established production.
"Helge Grans (PHI) on waivers"
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Grans has appeared in 1 game for Philadelphia this season, finishing with a -1 rating. That's hardly the workload of someone locked into Tocchet's regular rotation.
Philadelphia's waiver gamble carries real risk
The roster implications go beyond a simple trip to the minors. Any team willing to claim Grans can interrupt the Flyers' plan before a potential assignment takes place.
If he clears waivers, Philadelphia keeps him in the organization and gains flexibility to send him down. If he's claimed, that depth disappears without an asset coming back.
The Flyers want roster flexibility without surrendering a player who could still develop. Another club may value that potential more than Philadelphia does.
Grans carries an $837,500 cap hit through the 2026-27 season. His contract is another consideration for clubs deciding whether to make a claim.
General manager Daniel Briere has to balance immediate roster needs against the risk of losing a former high draft pick. Waivers can make that calculation unforgiving.
The Flyers are coming off a 4-1 home loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. The waiver decision now gives them another development to watch away from the ice.
The Flyers have made their move. Now the rest of the league gets a chance to decide whether Philadelphia's expendable defenseman is worth claiming.
Are the Philadelphia Flyers making a mistake by exposing Helge Grans to waivers?
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