The top two teams in the Atlantic Division both made roster moves on Friday, placing a couple of former stars on waivers.
The Boston Bruins put forward David Backes on waivers, while the Tampa Bay Lightning waived defenceman Luke Schenn.
Backes has only appeared in 16 games this season for the Bruins, scoring one goal and two assists. He suffered a concussion on Nov. 2 and missed a month of action.
The Bruins said they intend to assign him to Providence of the AHL should Backes clear waivers.
The former St. Louis Blues captain joined the Bruins as a free agent in the summer of 2016 and has one more year remaining on his contract.
Schenn, a former first-round pick of the division-rival Toronto Maple Leafs, has one goal in 15 games with the Lightning this season. He started the year in the AHL with Tampa’s affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, before being called up on Oct. 30.
Schenn joined Tampa in the off-season, signing a one-year, league-minimum deal. The Lightning are Schenn’s fourth team in three seasons and sixth since being traded by the Maple Leafs in the summer of 2012.
The Bruins currently sit atop the Atlantic with 68 points. The Lightning have been steadily gaining ground and sit second with 60 points.
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