With the excitement of a new NHL season building across the league, fans are on high alert for any signs that real hockey is just around the corner.

The anticipation is electric, and every small move is magnified as teams finalize their rosters and make critical decisions that could shape the months ahead.

In the midst of this annual flurry, a notable development has just emerged—one that signals the official start of hockey business as usual.

Insiders are already buzzing about the latest news, and social media is lighting up with speculation. A young player’s name has suddenly appeared on the waiver wire, catching many by surprise and sparking a fresh round of debates about team strategies and future potential.

For the Montreal Canadiens, this news comes with an added layer of intrigue, as their position in the waiver claim order is different from what fans have grown used to in recent years.

Who is this player? What does his sudden appearance on waivers mean for his future—and for teams like Montreal, who are always looking for the next hidden gem?

The details behind this move are more fascinating than they first appear, and the implications could ripple far beyond just one roster spot.

Photo of Rodwin Dionicio

Photo credit: NHL

Another sign that it’s really starting to feel like NHL hockey: a first player has indeed just been placed on waivers.

As just reported by insider Elliotte Friedman, the Ducks have placed young defenseman Rodwin Dionicio on waivers.

“Rodwin Dionicio – placed on waivers yesterday by ANA – has cleared.

Ducks can now terminate his contract”

– Elliotte Friedman

And that’s one!

The Montreal Canadiens hold the sixteenth waiver claim spot

This serves as a reminder that this year, for the first time in a long while, the Canadiens won’t have a top-5 position when it comes to claiming players off waivers.

Instead, Montreal holds the 16th spot, based on their final standing in last season’s NHL rankings.

That’s definitely useful to know, as more players will be placed on waivers in the coming weeks.

Rodwin Dionicio, just 21 years old, is a left-shot defenseman standing 6’2″ and weighing 196 pounds.

He was a fifth-round pick by the Anaheim Ducks in 2023 (129th overall) and played 24 AHL games with the San Diego Gulls before heading to Switzerland.

In the AHL, he recorded 9 points in 24 games (with 42 penalty minutes), and in Switzerland, he added 6 points in nine games.

He definitely seems to have an interesting profile!

We wish him the best of luck moving forward.