Marc McLaughlin’s NHL footing took a hit during the Olympic break, as the ex-Boston Bruins forward landed on waivers with a clear AHL plan attached.

New Jersey placed McLaughlin on waivers with the intention of activating him and assigning him to Utica. That wording matters, because it screams roster squeeze and lost runway.

McLaughlin is 26, an undrafted center the Bruins signed in 2022 after his Boston College run.

The Devils announcement makes it official that the next stop is likely the AHL, not an NHL fourth line.

He got NHL games in Boston, even popped a few goals early, and played with the kind of straight-line honesty coaches usually keep.

But the NHL is ruthless, and at the end of the day, it's a business. If you miss time, you lose your chair, and somebody else sits in it.

McLaughlin has also missed the entire 2025-26 season so far due to injury, which makes the timing even colder.

Marc McLaughlin placed on waivers

McLaughlin was never drafted, never handed anything, and that’s why this stings.

And if another team claims him, it’s the same message in a different sweater. The irony is he’s the exact type teams say they like, reliable, physical enough, and coachable.

There is a chance that this move is only being made because the NHL is on an Olympic break, sort of similar to the Bruins reassigning Poitras down to the minors right before the break.

It will be interesting to see whether or not he gets another shot in the NHL with the Devils whenever the NHL resumes.