Major Announcement for Rafael Harvey-Pinard Involving Waivers

Thursday night in Vancouver, Rafaël Harvey-Pinard played his 70th game in the NHL. While this season hasn't been what he had hoped for, he has nonetheless reached a significant milestone.

A milestone worth mentioning, which will provide arguments to keep him with the major club.

Indeed, a regulation of the NHL collective agreement states that a player who surpasses 70 games played in the league has to go through waivers if they are demoted to the minors. RHP is therefore, despite his difficult season, definitively in the CH's plans, whereas he could very well have been sent to Laval before the game against the Canucks.



It must be said that RHP's excellent end to the 2022-2023 season certainly muddled the plans of many. The Quebecer had produced at a blistering pace, finishing the last campaign with 14 goals in 34 games. This season, he has only managed to find the back of the net once in 32 games.

The troubles of the now 25-year-old forward can, however, be explained. He has often been injured this season and therefore never found his rhythm. Adding to the equation is the fact that he is no longer playing with Nick Suzuki, as there were many injuries in the club last year, but rather with Alex Newhook and Joel Armia. While these latter are good players, they are not of the caliber of the captain who certainly helped with the Quebecer's surprise production.

RHP will therefore have in his bag from the start of the next season the weight that waivers can have in the decision to demote him or not. While it's a significant advantage, he should not take his place for granted as he will be in the last season of a two-year deal averaging $1.1M. If he wants to earn a salary increase, he will need to find some of his scoring touch again!