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Former Capitals Nathan Walker and Riley Barber put on waivers by new teams

By Ian Oland

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September 24, 2019 4:38 pm

Hershey Bears regulars Nathan Walker and Riley Barber both left the Capitals organization in the summer for better opportunities on other NHL teams.

Tuesday, their dreams of starting the 2019-20 season in the NHL likely came to an end when the St. Louis Blues and Montreal Canadiens put both players on waivers.

Cap Friendly published the full list of players put on waivers.

Other NHL teams have until noon Wednesday to claim any of the players available. If Barber and Walker go unclaimed, they will be optioned back to the AHL.

Both players departing Washington was not a surprise.

During the Hershey Bears’ playoff run in the spring, Riley Barber revealed to the media that he did not plan to come back. The forward scored a team-leading 31 goals as well as putting up 60 points last season.

“I’ve been here for a long time and kind of know what Washington feels about me,” Barber said, “So it’ll be nice to see what other teams feel about me especially with the year I had and see how it shakes out in July.

“I’ve spent a while here,” he added. “Didn’t get a lot of opportunity. I don’t think I’d see myself coming back, but I never know.”

Barber signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Montreal Canadiens where he’ll make $700k at the NHL level and $300k in the AHL. He will also receive $400k in guaranteed salary, meaning Montreal is basically paying him extra if he doesn’t get time in the NHL.

Barber recently scored on a great play in a game against the Florida Panthers.

Meanwhile, Walker, the first Australian to ever play, score, and win a championship, signed a two-year deal with the Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues. Walker will make $700K in the NHL and $300K in the AHL during his first season with the Blues and will receive a $50k raise at the AHL level in the second year.

After playing seven regular-season games for the Capitals during the 2017-18 season, Walker fell out of favor in Washington despite strong underlying numbers. The Capitals put Walker on waivers in the winter where the Edmonton Oilers claimed him. A few weeks later, Walker was re-claimed back by the Capitals.

During the 2018-19 season, Walker had 17 goals and 39 points in 58 games for the Hershey Bears.

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