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Predators place Marc Del Gaizo on waivers
Nashville Predators defenseman Marc Del Gaizo © Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

The Nashville Predators have waived defenseman Marc Del Gaizo, according to PuckPedia.

Through 45 appearances with the Predators this season, Del Gaizo has collected two goals and seven assists for nine points coupled with a minus-four rating and 21 penalty minutes. Del Gaizo has also seen 30 showings with the AHL affiliated Milwaukee Admirals in which he has notched 12 points counting eight goals and four assists alongside a plus-10 mark and 16 penalty minutes.

Originally chosen by Nashville in the fourth round of the 2019 NHL Draft, the 25-year-old native of Basking Ridge, N.J., has spent part of two seasons with the Predators in which he has totaled two goals and 10 assists for 12 points through 54 career contests. The majority of Del Gaizo’s playing time has come in the minors where through five AHL seasons totaling 237 career contests he has tallied 25 goals and 76 assists for 101 points. With the Admirals in 2023-24, Del Gaizo notched a career-high 34 points counting eight goals and 26 assists coming in 60 games.

A college hockey graduate, Del Gaizo spent three seasons with the NCAA’s UMass Minutemen from 2018-21 where through 90 career contests he registered 20 goals and 38 assists for 58 points. Of note, in his freshman campaign, Del Gaizo earned a spot on Hockey East’s All-Rookie Team after he posted 13 goals and 16 assists for 29 points through 41 games, while in his final season he was named to the Third All-Star Team following 27 games in which he registered three goals and 11 assists for 14 points.

Del Gaizo also spent three seasons with the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks from 2015-18 highlighted by his third season when he led all league defensemen with 12 goals.

Per PuckPedia, Del Gaizo is on a one-year contract that carries a $775,000 annual average value and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent this coming offseason.

This article first appeared on Daily Faceoff and was syndicated with permission.

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Insider Report Ties Yankees to Pirates Pitchers in Final Hours Before Deadline
MLB

Insider Report Ties Yankees to Pirates Pitchers in Final Hours Before Deadline

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Yankees’ planned fire sale after Aaron Judge injury epitomizes roster weakness
MLB

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Mykel Williams Injury Raises Concerns For San Francisco 49ers Defense
NFL

Mykel Williams Injury Raises Concerns For San Francisco 49ers Defense

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The San Francisco 49ers were aware of these concerns when they drafted him, banking on their medical staff’s ability to manage any lingering issues. Now, the worry is that this could be a recurrence of the same issue. While the team has downplayed it as “minor,” any setback involving a player’s previous injury site can make fans—and the organization—uneasy. The lack of detailed updates also fuels speculation, with many wondering if the team is simply being cautious or if there’s more to the story. Timing Could Impact Development With heightened expectations placed on him, Williams needs every rep he can get during training camp to refine his pass-rushing technique and build chemistry with his defensive line counterparts. Missing even a few practices could slow his development and force him to play catch-up later. The transition from college to the NFL is no small feat, and rookies depend heavily on camp reps to adapt to the speed and physicality of the pro game. The San Francisco 49ers had hoped to boost their pass rush efficiency with Williams in the mix. Any disruption to his preparation could hamper the defense’s ability to start the season strong, particularly in a competitive NFC that demands excellence right out of the gate. How the 49ers Might Adapt Depth and Versatility on the Defensive Line The San Francisco 49ers have built a defense defined by depth and versatility, and that could help buffer the impact of losing Williams, even temporarily. Veterans like Nick Bosa are proven leaders who can help shoulder the load while Williams recovers. Additionally, younger contributors may see increased opportunities to step up in camp and pre-season action. Jackson, in particular, has shown flashes of brilliance and is entering a pivotal year in his development. While not as dynamic as Williams, he offers a capable solution in the short term. Davis, known for his ability to plug gaps and create interior pressure, also provides the coaching staff with flexibility in deploying different defensive packages. Coaching Strategies to Mitigate Loss Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh has proven adept at adapting his schemes to fit personnel. Should Williams miss extended time, Saleh could lean on creative blitzing strategies and adjustments to generate pressure from the linebacker level or secondary. Players like Fred Warner could be utilized in more aggressive roles to compensate for any reduction in pass-rush production. While such adjustments might address immediate deficiencies, the long-term goal remains to have Williams fully healthy and integrated into the lineup. His upside as a game-changing pass rusher is too valuable to risk by rushing him back prematurely. The Bigger Picture for the 49ers Defense San Francisco’s defensive identity has long been rooted in its ability to dominate at the line of scrimmage. 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