The Colorado Avalanche have placed forward Georgii Merkulov on waivers, a move that signals the end of his brief and interrupted stay with the organization this season.
The 26-year-old winger, who began the year on injured reserve after an undisclosed training-camp injury, has evidently recovered enough to be processed through the waiver wire.
Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports first reported the transaction on Saturday.
Merkulov arrived in Colorado on a one-year, two-way contract after becoming eligible for Group Six unrestricted free agency. His path to that status was shaped by limited NHL opportunity.
An undrafted free agent, he signed with the Boston Bruins in 2022 following a productive freshman season at Ohio State, where he scored 20 goals and added 14 assists in 36 games.
That offensive touch carried into the American Hockey League.
Across four full professional seasons with Providence, he consistently produced between 54 and 65 points, establishing himself as a reliable scorer at the minor-league level.
NHL appearances, however, remained scarce. In three seasons with Boston he dressed for just 11 games, including only one last year. In those outings he recorded a single assist while averaging roughly 12 minutes of ice time.
The combination of modest NHL experience and his professional résumé made him eligible for Group Six status this past summer, prompting the move to Colorado in hopes of earning a depth role.
Training camp did not unfold as planned. The injury that sidelined him early led to an injured/non-roster designation, and Saturday’s waiver placement effectively closes the chapter on any immediate push for an Avalanche roster spot.
Other clubs now have until 1 p.m. Central Time on Sunday to claim him.
A successful claim would give Merkulov a fresh opportunity to establish himself in the NHL; if he clears, he can be assigned to the Colorado Eagles.
Either outcome removes a modest $8,854 cap charge from Colorado’s books, a figure that reflects his limited NHL service last season with Boston.
Barring a claim that leads to regular NHL duty, Merkulov is again positioned to reach the open market as a Group Six free agent next July.
For a player whose professional career has been defined by strong AHL production and only fleeting NHL looks, the waiver process offers another chance to change that trajectory, or to continue the cycle of minor-league success and limited top-level opportunity.
