Liam Foudy found out on Friday he was going on waivers after skating in one game for the Columbus Blue Jackets this season. His 90th game with the franchise taking on the New York Rangers was his last before clearing out his stall.
“I wasn’t sure what was going to happen then Saturday at [1 p.m. central time] found out like everyone else that Nashville claimed me,” Foudy said after getting off the ice Monday. “I called my family members and it was an exciting feeling all the way around getting a fresh start and coming to a great organization.”
Foudy’s slate as a professional is now clean after being a healthy scratch in 20 of Columbus’ first 47 games last season.
“A fresh start is always nice when I found myself in a bit of a rut over [in Columbus] and in and out of the lineup,” Foudy said. “Coming to a new organization they believe in me, they picked me up to come here and get a new opportunity. Just come in here and get back to the way I play and take advantage of an opportunity.”
When asked what he can bring to the lineup Foudy said his speed is his biggest factor and doesn’t mind where Nashville plugs him in.
Looking back at Foudy’s time in the Ontario Hockey League he played one season as captain with the London Knights (2019-20). It was also forward Luke Evangelista’s second full season in London. The duo played with Washington Capitals forward Connor McMichael on a line that season before going their separate ways.
“We had a familiarly, that’s massive and he’s a great guy. He’s off to a great start here so I’m happy to see him doing well and be along for the journey,” Foudy said of Evangelista.
Foudy also spent time with Predators winger Gustav Nyquist in Columbus where they spent a handful of games playing together over the course of three seasons.
“Whenever you have familiar faces it helps a lot with everything and they reached out to me right away and so did a lot of the other guys. Having them be friendly like that is a huge factor helping me get situated here,” Foudy said.
The skill package Foudy has to offer is what interests head coach Andrew Brunette in the former first-rounder in 2018 who was taken 18th overall by the Blue Jackets.
“He can really skate and you saw that today,” Brunette said. “Excited to get my eyes on him a little bit more and he’s kind of like [Samuel Fagemo] who needs to get accustomed to how we do things systematically. It’s a day-to-day approach for sure with him.”
On the contrary, Cody Glass is still out of the lineup with a lower-body injury and Brunette has opted to dress Michael McCarron and Samuel Fagemo on the ice over Philip Tomasino.
Nashville’s roster currently sits at the maximum of 23 skaters (3 scratched players), and when defenseman Luke Schenn returns Nashville will have a roster decision to make.
Among the two latest additions, Fagemo and Foudy, they’d require waivers to report to the American Hockey League affiliate in Milwaukee. Tomasino does not require waivers to go back to the minors.
“I see the offensive instincts and I think it’s just the 200-foot game for him,” Brunette said of Tomasino’s play. “The pace of play is a little bit different and we’re asking a lot of our forwards to play at that pace and track the puck as much as we do. I think he needs to get a little accustomed to it and unfortunately, there are a lot of players right now so somebody’s going to get their chance. He’ll wait his turn and come in again and he’s working really hard at practice and I think he’ll be ready to go.”
Nashville welcomes the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night for an 8:15 p.m. puck drop during the NHL’s Frozen Frenzy Day. No official lineup changes have been made by Brunette but there’s at least a chance he shakes things up before letting it be known ahead of puck drop.
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