Douglas & Holtz hit waivers: Maple Leafs' roster fix after Nic Roy trade

The Toronto Maple Leafs have two notable players who could be sensible waiver claims in wingers Curtis Douglas and Alexander Holtz, both with a chance of reward.

According to Elliotte Friedman, the Tampa Bay Lightning are placing forward Curtis Douglas on waivers as teams make last-minute waiver moves the day before the trade deadline Friday.

Douglas, the biggest player in the NHL at 6'9 and 242lbs, spent two seasons in the Toronto Maple Leafs farm system, appearing in 80 AHL games with the Toronto Marlies between 2021-2023 but was unable to crack the Leafs roster.

The 25-year-old Douglas was claimed off waivers from the Utah Mammoth by the Tampa Bay Lightning back in October, appearing in 25 games for Tampa with two points.

With a cheap contract at $775K and a clear advantage with his size, Douglas could be a waiver claim for this season, and a roster contender for next. His size would be a replacement for Roy in bring intensity to the Leafs.

Douglas is a big body who can play physical if needed, but is largely restricted to playing a fourth line role, a spot that he's still filling into as a bigger player needing more time to mature.

The Toronto Maple Leafs could make a claim in for Douglas depending on their plans for the deadline tomorrow and if a mass sell-off is imminent, but he's not the only potential waiver option who could be claimed.

Douglas is one of eight players being placed on waivers. Seven were waived for the purpose of being placed in the AHL, while Mathieu Joseph was waived for the purpose of contract termination. He could be an option after tomorrow's deadline.

Also on waivers is Alexander Holtz from the Vegas Golden Knights. The 24-year-old is a former seventh overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft who has three goals and nine points in 28 games for Vegas.

Holtz has struggled to find a place having playing for the New Jersey Devils and Vegas Golden Knights, but his status as a former top-10 pick may give him another shot, but the Swede could be heading back to Europe soon if he doesn't prove himself at the NHL level.

On the first year of a two-year deal, this year and next could be key for Holtz, or he may be out of NHL options. Toronto could see him as an upside pickup, but he hasn't proven much.

Vegas also claimed forward Cole Reinhardt on waivers. The 26-year-old has appeared in 44 games for the Golden Knights this season with seven points.

Also on waivers are from New Jersey, Evgenii Dadonov, Maxim Tsyplakov, & Luke Glendening. Tsyplakov, who was signed by the New York Islanders as a free agent in 2024, had Toronto as a potential desintiation before signing in Long Island.

Garrett Wilson is on waivers by the Philadelphia Flyers, captain of their AHL affiliate in Lehigh Valley, Wilson was signed to a two-way contract earlier today, likely to clear.

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