[sureLoss]

Lots of confusion on waivers and how they work.


If Team B claims a player off waivers from Team A then Team B has to keep the player on the NHL roster or expose him to waivers again. If the player then clears subsequent waivers, Team B is free to send the player up or down as long as the player does not spend 30 days on the NHL roster or play 10 NHL games in which case waivers will be required again.

If Team A claims back a player on waivers in the same season it lost the player to waivers and they were the only team to put in the claim, they can immediately assign the player to the minors without requiring more waivers and assuming the player hasn't been on the NHL roster for 30 days or played 10 NHL games.




For example consider Mangiapane. If the Flames waive him and say the Leafs claim him but want him in the AHL. They would have to waive him again. The Flames could (assuming they are the only team to put a claim in) grab him back and put him in the AHL without any waivers. This is why in general you need to keep the player up in the NHL when you claim them off waivers, otherwise it is a fruitless effort.


In Gillies case, teams probably don't have to worry about the Flames claiming Gillies back. The logjam at the position and one way salary probably makes it very unlikely the Flames put in a claim if he were on waivers again.