Colorado Avalanche place Chris Wagner on waivers

The 32-year-old forward has split the 2023-24 season with the Avalanche and their AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles. In 13 games with the Avalanche, Wagner has a goal and an assist, as well as nine penalty minutes. In 21 games with the AHL’s Eagles, Wagner has eight goals and six assists for 14 points.

Through 10 NHL seasons, Wagner has scored 38 goals and 27 assists for 65 points in 373 career games with the Avalanche, Boston Bruins, New York Islanders and Anaheim Ducks.

After being drafted in the fifth round by Anaheim in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Wagner spent two seasons with Colgate University, capped with a 2011-12 season where he scored 17 goals and 34 assists for 51 points in 38 games. He would end his college career early and sign a three-year contract with the Ducks, then spent the next few seasons in their organization.

The Avalanche will play Game 2 of their first-round, best-of-seven series against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. EST/7:30 p.m. MST.

The Jets won the first game of the series 7-6 on Sunday, with two-goal efforts from both captain Adam Lowry and Kyle Connor. Mark Scheifele had a goal and two assists, and Connor Hellebuyck made 40 saves for Winnipeg.

Cake Makar had a goal and two assists for Colorado. In the first period, he assisted on Nathan MacKinnon’s goal, becoming the all-time leading scorer for defenseman in Avalanche playoff history.

MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen each scored a goal and an assist, while Mikko Rantanen had two assists.

Alexandar Georgiev stopped 16 of the 23 shots he faced for the Avalanche.