The process of clearing out Ken Holland-era draft picks continued on Monday, as the Vegas Golden Knights announced they have claimed Raphael Lavoie off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers.
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Lavoie was selected in the second round of Holland’s first draft with Edmonton in 2019, just one round after Philip Broberg, who has since left the team.
For those who believed Lavoie needed a fresh start with a new organization, that moment has come.
While the Oilers had room on their roster for another player, they took a risk by waiving Lavoie on Sunday, likely in an attempt to create a bit of cap space. Lavoie cleared waivers under similar conditions last year, but this time, after scoring over 25 goals in the AHL for the second consecutive season, he was claimed.
Lavoie displayed his scoring ability during camp, netting 2 goals in 3 games, including the late game-winner against Seattle in his final appearance. He was the only player on the team to score more than once in the preseason.
At 6’4″ and 215 pounds, the winger leaves Edmonton with just 7 games and 51 minutes of NHL experience (0-0-0, -2). He joins Vegas on a one-year, NHL-minimum contract and retains two more years of RFA rights after five years of development, four of which were spent in the Oilers system. This essentially means he’s a low-cost asset for a divisional rival after significant investment. Many Oilers fans are reminded of past instances when valuable players like Curtis Glencross, Kyle Brodziak, and Andrew Cogliano left for other teams in the division for little to no return—a painful echo of the past.
On another note, the other players who were waived, including goaltender Olivier Rodrigue, successfully cleared waivers. This was Rodrigue’s first experience with waivers after being exempt for his first four professional seasons, a privilege that lasts a year longer for goalies than for skaters.
Another notable waiver was defenseman Joshua Brown, who controversially signed a three-year deal with a $ 1.0 million AAV on July 1, which many considered too high in both length and value. This combination likely discouraged other teams from claiming him on waivers, possibly by design.
Brown struggled in camp but could be valuable in Bakersfield and serve as a mentor to young Maximus Wanner. For now, his cap hit is $ 0, and the Oilers can call on him when needed. While being waived after his first camp isn’t ideal for either the player or the organization, it doesn’t mean his career is over. It’s just an unsettling end to an introductory phase. Let’s wait and see how it unfolds before labeling him a failure.
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