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New York Islanders put Jaroslav Halak on waivers

Josh Cooper
ST. PAUL, MN - DECEMBER 29: Chris Stewart #7 of the Minnesota Wild scores a goal against Jaroslav Halak #41 of the New York Islanders during the game on December 29, 2016 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images)
Chris Stewart #7 of the Minnesota Wild scores a goal against Jaroslav Halak #41 of the New York Islanders during the game on December 29, 2016 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Getty Images)

The New York Islanders have placed goaltender Jaroslav Halak on waivers according to multiple reports Friday.

This means that Halak will be available for teams looking to add goaltending, provided they put in a claim for the netminder.

In late October, Halak’s agent Allan Walsh blasted New York’s using a three-goaltender system for the second straight season. Walsh pointed out how with the three goaltender system, “goalies don’t get enough practice time to stay sharp.”

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Walsh is also the agent for J-F Berube, another Islanders goaltender.

The same night, it was reported the Islanders had put Halak on the trading block.

In the past, Halak has also been critical of how the Islanders use three goaltenders calling it “not ideal.”

Halak has struggled for the last-place Islanders this season in 21 games with a 3.23 goal-against average and .904 save percentage. He was pulled in New York’s Thursday 6-4 loss to the Minnesota Wild after allowing four goals on 24 shots on goal.

Thomas Greiss, the Islanders’ other main goaltending option, has been more effective with a .922 save percentage and 2.49 goal-against average in 14 games.

Halak’s contract carries a $4.5 million cap hit for the rest of this season and next and it’s unclear which teams would look to make a claim at the 31-year-old Halak based on his numbers, his salary and the fact that he has another year left on his deal.

According to Newsday’s Arthur Staple, Halak will likely be sent to the AHL provided he clears waivers.

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The Los Angeles Kings have been mentioned in the goaltender trade market since Jonathan Quick injured his groin in the first period of the season, but Peter Budaj has done an admirable job with a 15-10-3 record and 2.04 goal-against average and .920 save percentage at a $600,000 salary cap hit.

Kings general manager Dean Lombardi had preached caution in entering the goaltending trade market because of the expansion draft asking, “how much are you going to give up for a two-month asset?” since the team would protect Quick who is on track to return by mid-February.

Putting in a claim for Halak would mean the Kings would give up nothing for the goaltender, but risk being in a salary cap quandary if the Vegas Golden Knights don’t pick him in the expansion draft.

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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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