The surprise player of training camp for the Columbus Blue Jackets has been placed on waivers.
According to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, Columbus Blue Jackets have placed defenseman Adam Clendening on waivers. The Jackets signed the 26-year-old defenseman on July 1st this offseason to a one year deal worth $750,000. He has played four games this year for the Jackets.
Clendening was one of three AHL defenseman signed this offseason along with Tommy Cross and Dillon Simpson.
Clendening though stood out in training camp and preseason play. His performance, along with injuries to Seth Jones and Ryan Murray, allowed him to make the NHL out of training camp and continue to compete for the one open slot on the Jackets blueline.
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Along with Scott Harrington, Dean Kukan and Gabriel Carlsson, Clendening rotated in the lineup while Jones and Murray recovered. Carlsson was sent to Cleveland early and it was pretty clear not too long after Carlsson leaving that Clendening was the third best defenseman left out of three.
Both Scott Harrington and Dean Kukan have been leaned on far more than Clendening and much more recently than Adam as well. Clendening hasn’t been in the lineup in a month, with his last start coming on October 13th against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Columbus Blue Jackets had been carrying a 23-man roster, the maximum allowed in the NHL up until now. The Jackets will now have an open spot to play with in terms of call ups.
They could be opening this spot up for Zac Dalpe who has been absolutely dominating the AHL and could help spark the fourth line.
Defenseman are always a hot commodity in the NHL, especially the right shot varieties like Clendening. It wouldn’t be shocking if a team picked him up off of the waiver wire after his impressive preseason performance and potential to be a solid third pair defenseman in the NHL.