Anaheim Ducks place 24-year-old forward on waivers

The Anaheim Ducks placed winger Nikita Nesterenko on waivers Tuesday, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, marking a notable shift after the forward opened the season on the NHL roster.

Nesterenko, 24, broke camp with Anaheim following a strong training camp, edging out waiver-exempt options such as Sam Colangelo and Tim Washe.

Concerns about losing him on waivers played a role in that decision, especially after he earned a one-way contract last offseason by building on solid AHL production and effective NHL call-ups in 2024.

His role, however, never fully stabilized. After a lengthy stretch as a healthy scratch, Nesterenko returned to the lineup on Dec. 29 against the San Jose Sharks. Over four games, he recorded one assist and nine hits while averaging 13:19 of ice time.

He was minus-3 in Monday's 7-4 loss to the Washington Capitals, a game that appeared to factor into the Ducks' decision.

Through 27 appearances this season, Nesterenko posted one goal and eight assists and ranked sixth on the team with 50 hits.

He was used primarily in defensive situations, starting just 44.3 percent of his even-strength shifts in the offensive zone and finishing with the lowest shot-attempt share on the roster.

If Nesterenko clears waivers, he is expected to be assigned to AHL San Diego. Anaheim would temporarily clear his $787,500 cap hit, though with significant cap space already available, flexibility was not the driving factor behind the move.

In other news, Egor Zamula, who was placed on waivers by the Penguins yesterday, cleared and is now an unrestricted free agent and free to sign with any team.