Report: Vancouver Canucks to either trade or put Spencer Martin on waivers

When Elliotte Friedman tweets, we listen.

Thursday marks the first day of NHL waiver activity and Elliotte Friedman has thrown out Vancouver Canucks’ goaltender Spencer Martin as a name that we should expect to see on waivers if he is not traded.

Martin struggled last season behind a defensively weak Canucks team. After posting ridiculous numbers during the 2022-23 season, Martin took a step back last season in the first year of his two-year contract with the Canucks.

His 2021-22 numbers were simply unsustainable as Martin held a 3-0-3 record in six starts and had a .950% save percentage as he burst onto the scene and at the time, many believed he would be the answer for the Canucks backup position during the 2022-23 season.

Last season, Martin had 27 starts and had an 11-15-1 record with a 0.871% save percentage. He was sent back down to the AHL late in the season and seemed to find his game. In 16 AHL starts last year, Martin had a solid .916% save percentage and helped the Abbotsford Canucks advance to the second round of the AHL playoffs.

Last week, Friedman spoke about the Colorado Avalanche potentially being a team interested in trading for Martin on his podcast, 32 Thoughts.

If a deal gets done, don’t expect a massive return for Martin. He could just as easily go on waivers and pass through with no team claiming him. Martin was our pick to be the Canucks’ backup before they brought in Casey DeSmith in the Tanner Pearson trade.

DeSmith has played in at least 20 NHL games in each of his last four seasons and showed well in his preseason debut with the Canucks on Wednesday.

The waiver announcement from the NHL should come down at 11 AM Pacific and we will keep you updated if and when that happens.

UPDATE 11:07 AM: Spencer Martin is on waivers.