Vancouver Canucks organization loses 30-year-old winger after being stolen off waivers
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The Vancouver Canucks organization have announced the departure of a 30-year-old forward after he was claimed off the waiver wire on Saturday afternoon.
Ultimately, the Vancouver Canucks decided to send down three players to the American Hockey League – Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Victor Mancini and Nikita Tolopilo, while calling up Jiri Patera as teams need to have two goaltenders on their active roster at all times, Olympic break or not.
“General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today the following Olympic break transactions. F Jonathan Lekkerimäki, D Victor Mancini, and G Nikita Tolopilo have been to assigned to Abbotsford (AHL), and G Jiri Patera has been recalled from Abbotsford under emergency conditions.” the Canucks said.
While the NHL teams might be restricted on what they can do with their rosters during the Olympic break, their minor league affiliate in the AHL and ECHL are not, and for the Vancouver Canucks organization, they’re now down one forward after they were claimed off the waiver wire.
Vancouver Canucks organization loses forward on the waiver wire
According to the ECHL’s transaction log on Saturday, the Rapid City Rush have claimed forward Blake Christensen off waivers from the Kalamazoo Wings, affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks.”Following are the ECHL transactions for Saturday, February 7, 2026:
WAIVER CLAIMS:
Rapid City:
Blake Christensen, F (from Kalamazoo)”
Christensen, a native of Rochester Hills, Michigan, was in his second season with the Kalamazoo Wings after registering 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) in 28 games last year.
Prior to joining Kalamazoo in 2024, Christensen has made stops in the AHL with the Bakersfield Condors and Springfield Thunderbirds, in the ECHL with the Worcester Railers and Tahoe Knight Monsters.
The 30-year-old even a brief stint in Switzerland’s second division – Swiss League – with Thurgau at the end of the 2022-23 season after leaving the Worcester Railers, where he had four points in four playoff games.
The now-former Kalamazoo Wings forward is set to make his Rapid City Rush debut on Friday night as they host the Tahoe Knight Monsters, ECHL affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights.
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Vancouver Canucks organization loses 30-year-old winger after being stolen off waivers
Are you surprised that the Kalamazoo Wings placed Blake Christensen on waivers?