NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MAY 23: Eeli Tolvanen #28 of the Nashville Predators skates against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period in Game Four of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on May 23, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
The Seattle Kraken claimed forward Eeli Tolvanen on waivers, Monday from the Nashville Predators.
Nashville placed the 23-year forward through waivers on Sunday.
The native of Vihti, Finland brings parts of five years of NHL experience to the Kraken lineup, along with a gifted skill set and a lethal shot that had delivered plenty of promise when the Predators took him in the first round, 30th overall back in the 2017 NHL Draft.
Tolvanen was selected ahead of forwards such as Jason Robertson, Drake Batherson, and Max Comtois.
Tolvanen, however, has struggled to put up the numbers similarly to the trio above, racking up 51 points in 135 career NHL games. He appeared to be close to a breakthrough two years ago in the pandemic shortened year, ranking fourth on the Predators with 11 goals in 40 goals, calculating to a 22-goal output through the course of a full season.
He was also a productive piece on the Predators power play that year, often stationed at the left circle where he overpowered goaltenders with his shot for six goals and 12 points on the man advantage. He also jammed in four game winning goals, including one in overtime.
His production regressed last season, however, managing the same output with 11 goals but in 75 games, as the Predators made the playoffs but were eliminated in a four game sweep to Colorado.
This season, he began on a three-game point streak and scored the eventual game winner in the Predators season opening win on Oct. 7 in Czech Republic against San Jose, but managed just one goal over the next 12 games. He was scratched for seven games in a row prior to Monday.
Per capfriendly.com, Tolvanen carries a cap hit of $1.45 million per year, under club control for the next two seasons.
The Kraken also placed forward Karson Kuhlman on waivers, who has three points in 14 games this year.
The Kraken will continue their four-game trip on Tuesday, visiting the Tampa Bay Lightning at 4pm PT (93.3 KJR / Kraken Audio Network).