The Vancouver Canucks have claimed Wild defenseman Cameron Crotty off waivers, the team announced this afternoon.
It's a small move on a Tuesday, but it lands on a team in real trouble. Vancouver sits 32nd in the NHL at 3-16-1 and has lost six straight, the latest a 1-3 home loss to the Flyers on Monday.
Crotty is a 27-year-old Ottawa native, listed at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds. He was a third-round pick, 82nd overall, in the 2017 draft.
He has barely had a chance to show what he can do at this level. Over his NHL career he has 11 games played and one assist, no goals.
For Minnesota, this is a quiet roster cleanup. The Wild (12-3-4, first in the Central Division) are in Montreal tonight and clearly didn't see a spot for him on a team that is humming along.
For the Canucks, the picture is very different.
What can Crotty actually do for Vancouver's blue line?
Realistically, he's depth. Nobody claims a defenseman with 11 NHL games and expects him to rewrite a defensive group that has allowed 90 goals through 20 games.
Still, the size matters in front of the crease, and the Canucks need bodies who can win battles along the wall and clear the net. Whether Manny Malhotra uses him right away is another matter, and nothing so far says he will.
Vancouver's goal differential is -34. One waiver claim doesn't touch that number, and anyone pretending it does isn't watching the games.
The claim does cost almost nothing. Crotty's cap hit is under $1 million and his contract runs through this season, so the Canucks get a look at a young-ish defenseman without committing real money or years.
Vancouver's next game is Friday, November 13, at home against the Rangers. Watch the lineup card that night to see whether Crotty is in it.
Quick hits
WINNIPEG JETS: Connor Hellebuyck is meeting the media in Winnipeg right now, hours before his Devils face the Jets. That's going to be an emotional room.
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GOALIE DECISION: Sheldon Keefe just said Hellebuyck wanted to start in Winnipeg tonight, but Devils GM Sunny Mehta made the call. Not a small detail.
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LOS ANGELES KINGS: RotoWire lists Anton Forsberg as the Kings' starter tonight against the Predators. Darcy Kuemper's status is still unclear, so keep an eye on that.
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UTAH MAMMOTH: Dylan Guenther is listed as questionable for Wednesday's game at Vegas, according to RotoWire. That could shake up the Mammoth top six.
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NEW YORK ISLANDERS: Mathew Barzal, Matias Maccelli and Ryan Pulock were all in regular practice jerseys in San Jose this morning, according to Andrew Gross. Good sign for the Islanders.
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This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence, based on public reports and official sources.
Is claiming a depth defenseman off waivers a waste of time for a Canucks team that has lost six straight?
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