Andreas Englund Claimed Off Waivers


 After holding down a regular blueline role in the Los Angeles Kings' top-six last season, Andreas Englund wasn't able to find his way into the lineup much this campaign, with just 11 games played. He was placed on waivers over the weekend and today has been claimed by the Nashville Predators. 

Englund, a left-handed defenseman, is in the final season of a two-year deal at an AAV of $1 million. Kings GM Rob Blake had tried to find a taker for Englund in a trade before admitting defeat and placing him on waivers. 

The 29-year-old is a large (6'3") D-man with some punch. Literally. He'll add some toughness in a depth role to the Predators' back end. 

The Kings had an overabundance of blueliners after the return of Drew Doughty, and waiving Englund was necessary to get the roster down to a somewhat more manageable number of eight rearguards. 

He had spent most of the season in the press box as a healthy scratch, after playing in a full 82 games last year for the first time in his career and registering 10 points, 81 penalty minutes, and a plus/minus rating of -3 in 13:13 average TOI per night. This year in 11 games, he had one goal and a minus-1 rating. 

Across parts of seven seasons in the NHL, Englund has played 173 games, posting 18 points, 152 PIM and a -17 rating. He provides plenty of physicality, though isn't overly adept at carrying the puck.