A somewhat surprising trip to the waiver wire did not come with new organizations for either defenseman John Moore or forward Chris Wagner, as both players have cleared waivers just one day after they were cut from Bruins camp.
Wagner went unclaimed by the rest of the league following a preseason that included three shots, six hits, and three blocked shots in three appearances, while 31 teams passed on Moore despite a ‘busy’ three-game preseason with two assists, four hits, and seven blocks with the veteran playing his off side.
The contracts were likely the holdup for potentially interested teams when it came to both players, too, with Wagner on the hook for $1.35 million for this year and next season and Moore set to make $2.75 million per year for the next two seasons.
And neither player is coming off a particularly strong 2021 campaign.
In the case Wagner, 2021 was his Bruins worst, as the Walpole, Mass. native tallied just two goals and five points, along with 75 hits and 21 blocked shots, in 41 games played. Moore, meanwhile, appeared in just five games before undergoing season-ending hip surgery, and has appeared in just 90 games since signing a $13.75 million contract with Boston in 2018.
With both players unclaimed, the Bruins have freed $2.25 million in cap space, as ‘burying’ the contract of both Moore and Wagner (who make a combined $4.1 million) will count against the Boston cap at a combined $1.85 million.
The Bruins will also be able to recall both Moore and Wagner from Providence for 30 days (or 10 games) without having to put either player back on the waiver wire.
The Bruins will have to submit their initial Opening Night roster at 5 p.m. on Monday.
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Ty Anderson is a writer and columnist for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Yell at him on Twitter: @_TyAnderson.