- The Jets claimed goalie Clay Stevenson off waivers from the Capitals
- Winnipeg is still without Connor Hellebuyck amid his trade standoff
- Read below for full details on the claim and why Washington kept Charlie Lindgren
The Winnipeg Jets finally have a real backup behind Stuart Skinner.
Winnipeg claimed goaltender Clay Stevenson off waivers from the Washington Capitals on Monday, as Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman first reported:
The Jets confirmed the move a short time later. Stevenson was the only player claimed from Sunday’s pre-deadline waiver wave. The other 70 names all cleared, including the three other Capitals on the list: Jonny Brodzinski, Spencer Smallman and Louie Belpedio.
Goaltending depth was a glaring hole for the Jets. Connor Hellebuyck didn’t report to training camp after his trade request went unanswered, and he’s now serving a team-imposed suspension. Other clubs have kicked the tires on a deal, but nothing has come together.
That left Skinner, signed in free agency as insurance, with Domenic DiVincentiis as his backup. DiVincentiis has never played an NHL game and posted an .896 save percentage in 34 AHL games with the Manitoba Moose last season.
Stevenson brings a lot more to the table. The 27-year-old went 3-1-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage in four games with Washington last season.
Down in Hershey, he went 18-13-3 with a .912 save percentage over 37 games. He was also part of the Bears’ goalie tandem during their 2024 Calder Cup run.
An undrafted Drayton Valley, Alta. native, Stevenson played one season at Dartmouth before signing with Washington in 2022. He carries an $850,000 cap hit on a one-way deal and can become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Washington knew the risk. Stevenson was stuck third on the depth chart behind Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren, and the Capitals went with Lindgren even after a rough 2025-26 where he posted a 3.52 GAA and an .879 save percentage.
Tarik El-Bashir of Monumental Sports Network laid out the team’s reasoning a few hours before the claim:
Capitals GM Chris Patrick saw this coming, too. Washington brought in Cal Petersen on a PTO in August, and Patrick was asked earlier this month whether a possible waiver loss played into that move.
“That is definitely a factor,” Patrick said. “It gives us some insurance in case something like that happens.”
Expect Stevenson to slot in as Skinner’s backup when the Jets open their season against the Boston Bruins on Oct. 2 at Canada Life Centre.
