Just over a month ago, the Flames’ organizational depth took a hit when Walker Duehr was claimed on waivers by the San Jose Sharks. However, after two goals in eight games over that stretch, Duehr has been placed on waivers by the Sharks yet again. The Calgary Flames should absolutely put in a claim for him.
Walker Duehr again?
Duehr and the Flames have a lot of history. Originally signed out of college, the Flames were the only organization that he really knew. Duehr has been a part of the franchise since mid-2021, longer than most members of the team currently.
However, tenure isn’t the only thing. What the Flames do get with Duehr if they claim him is the ability to put him in the AHL without going through waivers again. The way that it works is that if a team puts a player on waivers to send them to the AHL, every other team gets the opportunity to claim him to keep him in the NHL. If nobody claims him, the player can be sent down.
However, if a team loses the player then he ends up on waivers again and the first team claims him back, because he technically went through waivers and nobody else got him, that team can then send him straight to the AHL.
This would be immensely beneficial for the Flames, as they desperately need support down in the AHL. The Calgary Wranglers have lost eight of their last nine games, and have not scored more than two goals in eight of their last ten games. Duehr is a point-per-game player in the AHL this season, and has 11 goals to his name in that time, which would be a huge add for the team.
On top of that, the Wranglers are a team with several young players. William Stromgren, Hunter Brzustewicz, Samuel Honzek, and Parker Bell are all young players who could use the veteran leadership that Duehr provides in the lineup.
Duehr brings a lot to the lineup in the AHL, and if this team faces an injury, it’s one more body available for a call-up. This organization has had a dearth of right wingers for the last number of years, and having Duehr back will support this hole in the lineup.
There’s no reason not to try to re-acquire Walker Duehr.
