Here’s a pretty surprising move — the Oilers have placed @Tyler Ennis on waivers.
Ennis (EDM) on waivers
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) January 25, 2021
After just four games played, Ennis finds himself on the waiver wire. Ennis has yet to record a goal or an assist so far this season and has been on the ice for 24 shot attempts for and 40 against at even-strength.
My first thought with this move was that @Gaetan Haas is ready to join the team, but Jason Gregor reported after Sunday’s game in Winnipeg that the Swiss pivot likely won’t be ready this week.
“Smith has been on the ice at home. He is a ways away. Haas has been skating hard, but I don’t think he is ready this week.” Tippett #Oilers
— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) January 25, 2021
@Jujhar Khaira, @Joakim Nygard, @Alan Quine, @Patrick Russell, and @Evan Bouchard are the five skaters on the Taxi Squad, so any of them could possibly be joining the team. There has been some talk recently that Dave Tippett could look to get Bouchard into a game, perhaps with the strategy of icing seven defencemen.
In the case of Ennis, it wouldn’t be surprising if he was claimed by another team. Ennis inked a one-year, $1,000,000 deal with the Oilers last fall after putting up 33 points in 61 games between Ottawa and Edmonton in 2019-20.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are struggling with depth with Joe Thornton and Nick Robertson on the Injured Reserve. Ennis has played there before and wouldn’t have to quarantine to join the Leafs. They’re one of a few teams I could see putting in a claim for Ennis.
