Earlier today, 61 players were placed on waivers, including former Anaheim Ducks first-round pick Nathan Gaucher, who could be a fit for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
With NHL teams looking to finalize their rosters, it has become absolute bedlam when it comes to the waiver wire. For instance, today, a whopping 61 players were placed on waivers with the intention of those guys going down to the AHL.
One of the players placed on waivers is Nathan Gaucher, a 6-foot-3, 227-pound right-handed center for the Anaheim Ducks. He was their first-round pick back in 2022 and has just three NHL games under his belt.
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In the American Hockey League, Gaucher's numbers have steadily grown over the years. He went from just 19 points in 56 games in 2024-25 to 29 points in 62 games last season.
Is Gaucher what the Maple Leafs need?
The Toronto Maple Leafs don't have a ton of right-handed centers in their pipeline, which definitely makes Nathan Gaucher someone who could prove to be an interesting option.
However, the Leafs also need players who are productive and can play on the roster right now. Unfortunately, despite being a first-round pick, he simply hasn't proven enough at the National Hockey League level.
This is not a rebuilding year for the Maple Leafs. Instead, it is a retool, with their bottom-six getting most of the attention. Colton Sissons, Nick Paul, Teddy Blueger, and Brandon Duhaime were all brought in to fill those bottom-six roles.
Gaucher just isn't far enough along at 22 years old to take one of those spots away. Furthermore, the Toronto Marlies are already deep enough and don't need more guys.
As for the rest of the waiver wire, there simply isn't anything there for the Leafs to grasp onto. Instead, the team will be best served focusing on upcoming cuts, and finalizing the roster before opening night against the Montreal Canadiens.
Should the Toronto Maple Leafs claim Nathan Gaucher?
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A player the Maple Leafs have wanted for ages just hit waivers