On a crisp Friday afternoon, the NHL’s waiver wire lit up with the kind of news that sends shockwaves through front offices and fans alike. Two towering forwards—Anton Lundmark and Joona Koppanen—stand at the crossroads of their careers, their futures hanging in the balance as teams scramble to decide if these giants will become the next hidden gems. Under the fluorescent glare of the rink, Lundmark’s imposing 6-foot-4 frame and Koppanen’s even more intimidating 6-foot-5 stature cast long shadows, hinting at untapped potential and the promise of physical dominance that every GM covets.

It’s a scene that feels ripped from a hockey drama: two big bodies, both over 6-foot-4, suddenly available for free, waiting for a verdict that could change the trajectory of their professional lives. Anton Lundmark, recently skating with the Florida Panthers’ AHL affiliate, has been placed on waivers for contract termination—a rare move that raises eyebrows and questions about what might come next. His journey from Finland’s top league, where he put up 9 points in 49 games last season, to the uncertainty of North American hockey, is a story of grit, adaptation, and unfinished business.

Joona Koppanen, meanwhile, is no stranger to the NHL stage. Drafted by the Boston Bruins in 2016, he’s logged 30 games at hockey’s highest level and has quietly built a reputation as a reliable contributor in the AHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins’ affiliate, notching 25 points over the last two seasons. Yet, for all his experience and his massive 216-pound frame, Koppanen now faces the unpredictability of the waiver wire—a place where careers can be resurrected or lost in the blink of an eye.

The timing couldn’t be more dramatic. With the holiday roster freeze looming and the Montreal Canadiens in desperate need of size and depth up front, GM Kent Hughes finds himself at the center of a tantalizing opportunity. Reports swirl about goaltender Laurent Brossoit being available at a minimal cost from the Chicago Blackhawks, but it’s the chance to add one—or both—of these big forwards for nothing that could truly shift the balance for Montreal. The question is simple but loaded: Will Hughes make a move that could give the Canadiens a physical edge and shake up the lineup, or will these names slip quietly through the cracks, picked up by another team willing to gamble on size and potential?

By Saturday at 2 p.m., the verdict will be in. Until then, fans and insiders are left to speculate, analyze, and dream about what these two imposing figures could bring to a roster hungry for change. Are Lundmark and Koppanen just footnotes in the endless shuffle of NHL transactions, or are they the missing pieces that could spark a second-half surge for Montreal?

Keep reading, because the outcome of this waiver drama could be the first domino in a series of moves that redefine the Canadiens’ season—and the true story of Lundmark and Koppanen is only just beginning.

Photo of Anton Lundmark and Joona Koppanen

Photo credit: Habsfanatics/NHL

We have activity on the National Hockey League waiver wire this Friday afternoon, as two players are available for free.

We have verdicts on Joona Koppanen and Anton Lundmark, and we also have info on goaltender Laurent Brossoit, who is reportedly available at a minimal acquisition cost from the Chicago Blackhawks.

That is a very interesting situation to monitor for Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens. That said, back to Koppanen and Lundmark, who remain two available options, if ever.

Two players placed on the National Hockey League waiver wire

We are talking about two forwards, too!

“Koppanen (PIT) on waivers

Lundmark (FLA) on waivers for purposes of contract termination”

– Elliotte Friedman, Sportsnet

Anton Lundmark, 24 years old, is a 6-foot-4, 192-pound forward who played nine games this season with the Florida Panthers’ AHL affiliate. Last season, he recorded 9 points in 49 games with Timra, in Finland’s top league.

Joona Koppanen, 27 years old, is a giant 6-foot-5, 216-pound forward, a 5th-round pick of the Boston Bruins in 2016, who has played 30 games in the National Hockey League. He also put up 25 points in the American Hockey League over the last two seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins’ affiliate.

We will have a verdict this Saturday at 2 p.m. regarding these two big forwards, both over 6-foot-4.