Raphael Lavoie - It's Nice to be Wanted

[RGM81]

The poor guy. Raphael Lavoie has been on waivers three times in the past week, and been claimed each time.

The former 2nd round pick in 2019 has had a heck of a week.

Oct. 6: Placed on waivers by Edmonton
Oct. 7: Claimed on waivers by Vegas
Oct. 8: Placed on waivers by Vegas
Oct. 9: Claimed on waivers by Edmonton
Oct. 10: Placed on waivers by Edmonton
Oct. 11: Claimed on waivers by Vegas

Like, it's great they both seem to really want him, but give the kid a roster spot already and stop these shenanigans.

[Amsfan]

Just wondering, does he get airline miles?

[Cunnuc]

What is the reasoning behind picking a player from waivers and placing them on waivers next day or same day?

[RGM81]

To assign him to the AHL.

[30ranfordfan]

I'm very late to the party on this one, but what a bunch of nonsense... and also Vegas + a friend (all legal) manipulating the rules here.

Oct. 6: Placed on waivers by Edmonton ---> Oilers try and send him down to the AHL. Any team can claim him, only Vegas does.
Oct. 7: Claimed on waivers by Vegas ---> Vegas puts in their claim. I think quite legitimately they claimed two guys that day, hoping to get one. They get both.
Oct. 8: Placed on waivers by Vegas ---> Vegas doesn't have room to keep him (They kept Cole Schwindt instead, who the claim on the 7th as well). Waive him, try to send to the AHL.
Oct. 9: Claimed on waivers by Edmonton ---> Oilers and one other Western Conference team, who was higher than them in the 2023-24 Standings put in a claim. Oilers get him.
Oct. 10: Placed on waivers by Edmonton ---> Because a 2nd team claimed him on the 9th, Oilers have to waive him again (if nobody else did, they could send him straight to the AHL without waivers)
Oct. 11: Claimed on waivers by Vegas ---> Only Vegas claims him, they are effectively the "reclaiming" team now, so they can assign him directly to the AHL without waivers.

There's a few things at play here:

1. NHL says that pros over a certain age / experience have to clear waivers to go to the AHL. I think this is a great rule for players, gives bubble guys a chance to play elsewhere, rather than be buried in the AHL if they're good enough.
2. If you claim another teams player on the way to the AHL, you have to keep them on the roster, or else the original team can have them back (or even another team). In the case of a guy like Lavoie, this makes sense. If the Oilers still want him in the org - why in the world should another team get him for nothing, just to stick him in the minors?

Most commonly, what happens in these situations is that when the "new team" (in this case Vegas) tries to send them down, the "old team" (in this case Edmonton) re-claims the player, and sends them directly to the AHL without waivers. This makes sense as a "fair" thing to do. They already went on waivers once. A single team claimed them, who did not keep them on the roster .Stop wasting everyone's time, and the player is now assigned.

That's what would have happened with Lavoie, but the extra claim on the 9th negates that. We know it was a Western team, and it was someone who was ahead of the Oilers in regular season points last year. Rumor was that it was the Avalanche, but it really doesn't matter who it was.

Because that second team claimed him, the Oilers can't automatically send him to the AHL. He's got to clear waivers again (so that the Avs, or whatever team it was, gets another shot).

What happens? The mystery team does not put in a claim, only Vegas does. Since Vegas is technically the "old" team in this case (because they claimed him on the 7th) - they can now send him down, without waivers.

Either the Knights were aided by a friendly GM on another team, or a GM on another team wanted to put the screws to the Oilers. Maybe both.

It was all within the rules, and legit, but IMO went against the spirit of the rule. If he'd played a single game for the Knights, I'd object less - but letting Vegas stash him because he was on the roster for a couple of hours.... and not the Oilers because another team made a claim they knew wouldn't go through.... it stinks.