Things can go wrong when your team is on a 10-game winning streak. Just ask Bryan Bickell.
It’s been a frustrating year for Bickell, and it got a lot more frustrating for him on Saturday.
The ‘Hawks placed the slumping forward back on waivers today. This is the second time this season that he’s been exposed to the waiver wire.
Bryan Bickell (CHI) on waivers.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) January 16, 2016
The 29-year-old has been ineffective this year as he has no goals and two assists in 23 games.
If he clears waivers and Chicago returns him to the minors, the team will still be on the hook for a good chunk of change, per General Fanager.
What if another team actually claims him this time?
Bickell would count for $1.806 million on that team’s cap for the rest of 2015-16, and he would count for $4 million next season.
The ‘Hawks have just over $640, 000 in cap space.
The move is hardly surprising considering the amount of time Bickell’s spent in the press box. Earlier this week, Joel Quenneville opted to put Richard Panik into the lineup ahead of Bickell after Artem Anisimov was a last minute scratch.
I mean, Artem Anisimov is late scratch and Joel Quenneville throws Richard Panik into lineup instead of Bryan Bickell. That's a doghouse.
— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) January 13, 2016