Avalanche waive defenseman Brad Hunt

The Colorado Avalanche placed defenseman Brad Hunt on the waiver wire Saturday, reports Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

Colorado signed Hunt, 34, to a two-year, two-way contract before this season. He’s played in 26 games for the Avs, as he was called into action with a slew of injuries affecting the team. He has three goals and three assists for six points, but he has been restricted to a bottom-pairing role.

Hunt had played in every game for Colorado after he was recalled in early December. It’s unclear why Colorado has opted to place Hunt on waivers, but the team has made a habit out of waiving players but not sending them down purely to create roster flexibility in advance.

It could also be a sign that Josh Manson, who’s been on injured reserve with a lower-body injury since Dec. 3, will be ready to return soon. There were whispers that he could return on the team’s current road trip, but he’s not expected to play in the Avs' final game of the trip Saturday against Florida.