The Columbus Blue Jackets tried to sneak Liam Foudy through to the American Hockey League on Friday, but unfortunately lost the forward to the Nashville Predators via the waiver process.
It’s been a long journey for Foudy and the Blue Jackets. Originally drafted by the team in the first round (#18 overall) at the 2018 NHL Draft, Foudy has been through quite a bit in his young career. In the end, he played 90 NHL games over five seasons with the organization, scoring 7 goals and 19 points in the process.
Through more than one serious injury and the COVID pandemic, he didn’t get many game reps in and his development was stunted. The team drafted him with the hope that he would develop his scoring touch and become a middle-six player, but over time, he simply fell off and was passed over by younger, more skilled options for the club.
RED-HOT LIAM FOUDY 🔥 pic.twitter.com/3h5oqE7D8a
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) April 11, 2023
Foudy gets a second chance with a Nashville organization that has been looking for depth up front early on this season. His speed and two-way capabilities should earn him a good look with the Preds, and I truly hope he takes full advantage and becomes the NHL player we thought he would be.
Ultimately, it came down to a numbers game in Columbus this fall, and like Eric Robinson (demoted to Cleveland last week), Foudy just didn’t do enough to separate himself from the pack. After making this move, the Jackets are left with just one reserve forward in the NHL – which is actually down to zero, with Patrik Laine suffering an apparent concussion at the end of last night’s game.
The team is currently carrying 8 defensemen, which is a situation that also seems like it will need resolution at some point in the near future. Stay tuned!