Updated NHL Waivers Priority, Canadiens In Good Standing

We’ve seen some interesting names hit the waiver wire this season, which makes the Montreal Canadiens good standing leading up to the NHL Trade Deadline rather interesting.

Due to finishing the 2021-2022 season in last place, the Canadiens had the advantage of having the highest priority on the waiver wire over the last six months, but their time at the top is now coming to an end.

However, due to the strong play of their youngsters, the Canadiens aren’t in the bottom five of the NHL Standings this season. Since November 1, the NHL waiver priority of the NHL has been contingent on current-day NHL standings, per the NHL‘s collective bargaining agreement:

“In the event that more than one Club makes a claim for such Player, he shall: (i) be transferred to the claiming Club having earned the lowest percentage of possible points in the League standing at the time of the request for Waivers, or (ii) if Waivers are requested outside the Regular Season, or the successful Waiver claim is made (i.e., the date the Player would be transferred to a successful claiming Club per this Section), before November 1st then the priority shall be determined by the final standing in the League’s Regular Season schedule in the preceding Regular Season.”

Currently, the Chicago Blackhawks have the first priority in the waiver wire, followed by the Anaheim Ducks and the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Montreal Canadiens currently find themselves 6th in priority, as they currently occupy 27th place in the standings.

The waiver priority is a simple reverse order of the NHL standings, points percentage do not play a role in determining the order, outside of a tie-breaker for teams with the same amount of points.

The priority varies on a daily basis, as the NHL standings fluctuate over time, but, with the performances of Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki as of late, it may be difficult for the Montreal Canadiens to ever come close to having priority again this season, but they may hover around the 6th spot. For head coach Martin St. Louis, that’s probably some welcome news.

Here is the updated waiver priority below: