Two NHL players placed on waivers for Feb. 17
On Tuesday, the Colorado Avalanche placed defenseman Jacob MacDonald on waivers, with the Washington Capitals also putting goaltender Mitch Gibson on the wire.
Waivers today: #GoAvsGo Jacob MacDonald #ALLCAPS Mitchell Gibson Skinner cleared yesterday for the #TheFutureIsTeal and is now a UFA puckpedia.com/waiver-wire
MacDonald has been on the shelf since September, as the veteran rearguard underwent preseason hip surgery. The original prognosis had the 32-year-old out of action for 5-6 months. With him most likely heading down the road to join the Avalanche’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, his rehabilitation is right on schedule.
MacDonald is coming off his best season ever. With the Eagles, he set career highs in goals (31), points (55) and plus/minus (+24). He led all AHL rearguards in scoring, finishing tied for seventh in plus/minus. It led to MacDonald winning the Eddie Shore Award as the league’s top defenseman, along with being named to the AHL First All-Star Team for the second time in his career.
In February, MacDonald represented the AHL’s Pacific Division in the second All-Star Classic appearance of his eight-year career in the league. The Portland, Ore. native signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Avs in July 2024, which carries an NHL cap hit of $775,000 and a minor-league salary of $525,000 through this season.
MacDonald has appeared in 135 NHL contests, scoring 10 goals and 17 assists for 27 points. In 358 AHL games, both regular season and playoffs, he has notched 100 goals and 157 assists for 257 points.
Gibson signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Capitals on Tuesday, as he started the 2025-26 season on a minor-league deal with the team’s primary affiliate, the Hershey Bears.
While the Pennsylvania native has been called up to Washington a couple of times, he has never played in an NHL game. Instead, he has been in the minors, mainly with the South Carolina Stingrays, the Caps’ ECHL affiliate. He was on a one-year, two-way contract during the 2024-25 season, but didn’t receive a qualifying offer. Gibson elected to stay within the organization, signing a minor-league contract with the Bears.
Gibson has spent quite a bit of time in Hershey this season. In 12 games, he has posted a 6-4-3 record, with a 2.48 goals-against average, a .918 save percentage and one shutout. He’s also played 13 games with the Stingrays, going 8-5-0 with a 2.32 GAA, a .917 SV% and one shutout.