Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
A former Toronto Maple Leafs forward finds himself on waivers from the Calgary Flames.
Calgary Flames forward Dryden Hunt has been placed on waivers, according to Elliotte Friedman.
Hunt, a former member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, is one of three players on waivers today, including Hunt, Minnesota Wild forward Ben Jones, and Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Egor Zamula.
Hunt, 30, has spent most of the season with the Calgary Wranglers, the Flames AHL affiliate, where he had 18 points in 16 games, and appeared in two NHL games for the Flames this season, recalled on Friday.
Hunt played nine games for Toronto in the 2022-23 NHL season, acquired by the Leafs in 2022 in exchange for Denis Malgin, traded to the Flames months later in March of 2023 for Radim Zohorna, a deal made with then-Flames GM Brad Treliving.
Could Dryden Hunt find his way back to Toronto?
Dryden Hunt has a connection to Brad Treliving, having been a player he acquired in the past back in Calgary, but is that enough to make a deal happen again?
Hunt doesn’t have a clear spot on the Leafs lineup, and likely doesn’t take a spot from anyone currently on the roster, but if he clears waivers, he could be a potential depth/AHL acquisition via trade as a logical cheap add.
The Marlies have lost options such as Easton Cowan and David Kampf, and need relief for players such as Jacob Quillan who could be late season call-ups, which would lead to the need for an AHL forward like Hunt in relief.
Another name that could make sense is Egor Zamula, the 6’3 defenseman is young at 25 and plays a defensively reliable game, but hasn’t shown much in the NHL, and likely doesn’t beat out anyone long-term.
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Familiar face hits waivers as former Maple Leaf becomes available
Should Toronto claim Dryden Hunt off waivers?