Former Vancouver Canucks Prospect Surprisingly Claimed Off Waivers After Contract Termination

During the offseason, we saw many former Vancouver Canucks players and prospects change teams as they looked for new a challenge in their respective careers, but for Carson Focht, he decided he wanted to remain in the ECHL with the Orlando Solar Bears and ended up signing a one-year deal with them.

After two games this season and nine in total as a member of the Orlando Solar Bears, the organization decided to release him from his contract, which made him eligible to be claimed off waivers and if he wasn't, then he'd become an unrestricted free agent.

In a bit of a surprising move, especially given that he's been limited to only nine games since the start of the 2024-25 season, Carson Focht did not clear waivers.

According to the ECHL's transaction log, the Adirondack Thunder, affiliate for the NHL's New Jersey Devils and AHL's Utica Comets, have claimed the former Canucks prospect off of the waiver wire on Wednesday.

The Regina, Saskatchewan was a fifth round pick (133rd overall) of the Vancouver Canucks in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, which was held in the city at Rogers Arena, and ended up spending parts of three seasons in the organization before becoming an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2023 after Patrik Allvin decided not to issue him a qualifying offer.

Focht would go on to appear in 72 games at the AHL level in Canucks organization, as well as 36 games in the ECHL before moving on in 2023 and signing with the Tulsa Oilers as a free agent.

The 25-year-old could potentially make his Adirondack Thunder debut as early as tomorrow night as the club travels nearly ten hours south to Norfolk, Virginia to take on the Admirals.

Source: ECHL
ECHL Transactions - Nov. 5