Trust me, he won't be waived next year. See how that works? If you're going to make an assertion, it helps to back it up with some actual facts or analysis.
I have no reason to think he'll be waived next year - if nothing else he can be scratched because the team has lots of cap space. In fact, I can give you many reasons he won't be waived, including the fact he gets a regular shift on a fourth line, can actually play hockey in that role (not just fight), and he'll be needed for the expansion draft. You haven't identified one reason he'd be waived. So no, I don't trust you.
-Lots of players in hockey have played a regular 4th line shift and been waived. In fact, I'd say the vast majority of players on 4th lines have and will. The fact that he's playing on the 4th line now doesn't negate the fact that he has been waived nor will it have anything to do when he is waived again. Also:
-He's not a very good player.
-He's been waived before.
-He'll be replaced by a better player next year.
-He really can't "actually play hockey" at an effective NHL level.
-If you look at something like the rankings of dailyfaceoff (using the player ratings from Corsica Hockey) he's listed as the 139th best LW in the NHL.
-He's a career -64, yes he's always played on bad teams so that hurts his +/- but it also tells you that any good team has better options.... and so do every bad team that's had him.
-His CF% REL is -7.1 He's been - relative every year he's been in the league except for his 1st when he played 17 games. Again, he's negative relative to his teammates on bad teams. When you are a bad player who is worse than other really bad players it means you are really really bad.
- A quick look at similar players on hockey-reference w/ similar career pt shares- Paul Masnick, Ryan White, Colin Fraser, Brian Sutherby- all players who were journeymen waiver wire guys.. just like ND.
There. I've identified several reasons. You are welcome and I'm glad I've earned your trust.
