Four players placed on waivers as NHL roster freeze draws near

There was no shortage of activity on the NHL’s waiver wire Wednesday.

Beginning in New Jersey, veteran center Justin Dowling has cleared waivers. The 34-year-old Calgary, Alta., native has split time between the Devils and AHL’s Utica Comets this season, registering three points in 21 contests with New Jersey plus two goals and two assists in six showings with the minor-league club.

In Colorado, right winger Chris Wagner cleared waivers for the third time this season for the purposes of being assigned to the AHL’s Colorado Eagles. The 33-year-old Massachusetts native has registered one goal through 22 appearances with the Avalanche this season in addition to one tally in five games with the Eagles.

The Avalanche also made a second transaction Wednesday as left winger Tye Felhaber was added to waivers. On Sunday, Felhaber signed a two-year contract with the Avalanche, then made his NHL debut with the club Tuesday versus the Vancouver Canucks. In all, the 26-year-old product of Pembroke, Ont., saw 4:34 of ice-time in the contest.

In Nashville, the Predators waived 25-year-old rearguard Marc Del Gaizo. The New Jersey native has collected three assists through 20 appearances this season. A 2019 fourth-round selection by the Predators, Del Gaizo made his NHL debut with the club last season, totaling nine appearances.

The New York Islanders placed 29-year-old defenseman Grant Hutton on waivers. The Indiana native has seen 12 contests with the Islanders this season, picking up two assists. Hutton has also played nine games this season with the club’s minor-league affiliate, the Bridgeport Islanders, in which he has collected two assists.

Lastly, the Winnipeg Jets have waived defenseman Dylan Coghlan. The 26-year-old native of Duncan, B.C., has made a lone appearance with the Jets this season, a late November contest versus his former squad, the Vegas Golden Knights, in which he finished with two shots in 14:38 of ice-time. In all, Coghlan has made 107 NHL appearances split between the Jets, Golden Knights, and Carolina Hurricanes.