The Maple Leafs, Devils and Blues each have a duo of off-season additions who are impressing early on. Brandon Saad [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjEyNDQxNTg2NDUyMTQ1Njcz/usatsi_24762879_168400847_lowres.jpg] Brandon Saad The St. Louis Blues [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/st-louis-blues/] placed left winger Brandon Saad on NHL waivers Tuesday. The 32-year-old has a $4.5-million cap hit that would remain through next season. He signed this five-year contract with the Blues as a free agent in 2021. If no team claims Saad within 24 hours, he can be sent to the AHL's Springfield Thunderbirds. The Pittsburgh native has not played in the AHL since the 2012-13 season, when he played 31 games with the Rockford IceHogs, the Chicago Blackhawks' affiliate. Earlier this season, Saad was a player on the radar to be traded before the deadline on March 7. Instead, other teams can now take him without losing any assets. This campaign has been one of Saad's worst in terms of offensive production. In 43 games, he's scored seven goals and provided nine assists for 16 points. He also has a team low in the plus-minus department with minus-14. Almost half of Saad's goals came in a game against the Ottawa Senators on Jan. 3 when he scored a natural hat trick to guide the Blues to a 4-0 shutout victory. [https://thehockeynews.com/news/blues-brandon-saad-improves-trade-stock-with-hat-trick-against-the-senators] Saad is ninth in team scoring, sitting behind defensemen Cam Fowler, Justin Faulk and Colton Parayko. Saad was selected 43rd overall by the Blackhawks in the 2011 NHL draft. He spent most of his 14-year career with Chicago, playing 428 games with the club. He also won two Stanley Cups with the team in 2013 and 2015. Since then, Saad has also played for the Columbus Blue Jackets and Colorado Avalanche. The Blue Jackets have cap space if they want to bring him back and add another veteran presence, but the Avalanche would need the Blues to retain salary in a trade if they wanted to acquire him for the playoff push. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjEyMDk0MTI4NDI5NzM3OTYw/googlenews.png] Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwytvfCA?ceid=CA:en&oc=3] and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here [https://info.thehockeynews.com/mail/microsites/951/1/gTeQVf?_gl=1*ustlbj*_ga*NjkyMzUxMy4xNjYzNjIwMzQ3*_ga_PK63FB1PME*MTcxMzUwOTExNi40NDguMS4xNzEzNTA5MjA5LjU5LjAuMA..]. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or by visiting our forum [https://thehockeynews.rtb.io/THNHOME/posts].
