Earlier today TSN's own NHL insider Bob McKenzie broke the news that the Carolina Hurricanes claimed former Philadelphia Flyers forward Andreas Nodl off of waivers.
Nodl tallied a total of 1-point (1 A) in 12-games played this season for the Orange & Black, and has a +/- rating of minus-1.
But do not let those numbers (or should I say, number) fool you. Andreas was primarily a defensive offenseman and a decent penalty-killer. Considering the 'Canes dangle in the lower PK percentages in the league (80.2%, 22nd Overall), this is a pretty solid pickup for Carolina.
The Southeast Division squandering club will absorb Nodl's entire 2-year, $1.69M contract. In case some of you out there get the rule in Waivers/Re-Entry Waivers mixed up like I do, only would both clubs split the player's cap hit in half had he cleared waivers initially and claimed on re-entry waivers.
According to the NHL's Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article 50, Section 50.9(g)(ii) Issues Relating to Timing and Calculation of Actual Club Salary and Averaged Club Salary --
To the extent the Player does require Waivers....he then cannot be Recalled to the NHL parent Club during the same League Year without also clearing a new Re-Entry Waiver procedure, pursuant to which the Player can be claimed by another NHL Club for fifty (50) percent of the contract's remaining amounts to be paid, with the balance to be paid by and charged to the waiving NHL Club (both amounts to be counted against each Club's Upper Limit, Actual Club Salary and Averaged Club Salary, and counted against the Players' Share)
With Nodl's hit completely off the Flyers books, that's $845K more to play with.
Some believe (like myself) that this is a move made by the front office in efforts to clear way for defenseman. I've been saying it for awhile now, Matt Carle's 4-year, $13.75M contract is in its last league year. There are no clauses in his contract limiting the Flyers from trading/moving him.
I do not believe Carle is a blue liner this team can re-sign in the off-season without giving him some sort of increased pay-grade which he doesn't deserve (again, my opinion).
If Carle is packaged with a prospect or draft pick, mixed with the space being opened up by small moves like Nodl off the books, it'd behoove the Flyers to at least try to take a stab at dealing for a more seasoned, sizable, physical d-man.