Report: Linden Vey, Tyler Wotherspoon on waivers

Following yesterday’s game in Vancouver, Calgary Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan reportedly wanted to get the team’s playing roster cut down to the opening night group so he could fine-tune systems and other such things.

Given the many impending moves today, we’ve had the first ones: Linden Vey and Tyler Wotherspoon are reportedly on waivers… presumably (but not necessarily) for the purposes of assigning them to the American Hockey League’s Stockton Heat.

Vey, 25, was acquired by the Flames as a free agent following a tumultuous last few seasons that saw him bounce between the NHL and AHL (in both the Canucks and Kings systems) while his father was undergoing a trial for conspiracy to murder Vey’s mother. He’s established himself as a really solid AHLer but has yet to really cement himself as an NHLer. He’ll be a resource in Stockton, and possibly the first call-up if they require a right shot forward.

Wotherspoon, 23, was a second round pick of the Flames in 2011. He spent time in the NHL in each of his first three pro seasons (a total of 26 games), and he’s shown himself to be a capable (if slightly inconsistent) NHL blueliner. He’ll likely be a top pairing guy in Stockton and probably the first callup if a defender is needed.

Based on their skill sets and experience levels, it’s unlikely that either player will be claimed off the waiver wire as most teams have their own versions of them within their systems.

Based on the five projected available roster spots, we already know that one is going to Matthew Tkachuk. Wotherspoon’s waiving strongly suggests that either Brett Kulak has made the team or that Nicklas Grossmann will be signed for the final defensive spot, and that the other forward spots will go to Alex Chiasson, Brandon Bollig and Freddie Hamilton based on Vey likely going to to the farm team.

(Update: looking at the roster numbers, presumably at least one of the PTO or waiver-exempt forwards stays with the team if they begin the season with 13 NHL forwards that aren’t Johnny Gaudreau.)

Upon clearing waivers, players can stay on the NHL roster for 30 days (or 10 games played by their team, both cumulative) before they require waivers again to go to the minors (and they can go to the minors at any point during that 30 days).

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