Healthy Flames place Glenn Gawdin on waivers

As players returned to health, the Calgary Flames were forced to make a roster move. Tyler Pitlick and Brad Richardson both returned to practice on Monday, and multiple reports named centre Glenn Gawdin as the odd man out on waivers on Tuesday. That will allow Richardson to be activated from Injured Reserve for Thursday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings.

Placed on NHL waivers today: Glenn Gawdin (CAL).

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) October 20, 2021

As we wrote at the start of the season, the 24-year-old Gawdin, made the team out of camp because of injuries and Blake Coleman’s suspension, but also earned that shot with his work ethic and consistency throughout training camp.

Mindset in Flames camp led to opening-night roster spot

Head coach Darryl Sutter told Gawdin in exit meetings last year he’d have a good shot at making the team this fall. Sutter just needed Gawdin to understand his role and excel at it after getting away with some things in the higher end of a lineup as an AHL all-star he can’t get away with in the NHL.

“A lot of that is mindset. It’s not about getting quicker or getting stronger. A lot of it is how I’m going to play,” Sutter said. “I think he did a good job of understanding that and then applying it.”

Gawdin scored twice in six preseason games but didn’t make a lasting impression in his two games in the regular season. He especially struggled in the faceoff circle (27%) in losses to the Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks. If he clears waivers, Gawdin will return to the Stockton Heat, the team’s AHL affiliate. He’s on a one-year, two-way deal.

If Gawdin doesn’t play 71 games with the Calgary Flames or another NHL team this year, he’ll become a Group 6 unrestricted free agent this summer.

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