What Andrej Nestrasil Will Add to the Carolina Hurricanes After Waiver Claim

Andrej Nestrasil, 23, is riding the most productive and successful eight-month stretch of his hockey career.

Thursday, he was claimed by the Carolina Hurricanes off of waivers from the Detroit Red Wings.

Saturday, he'll make his 'Canes debut in Colorado.

Season	Team	GP	Goals	Assists
2011-12	Toledo (ECHL)	51	7	22
	Grand Rapids (AHL)	25	3	1
2012-13	Toledo (ECHL)	40	11	30
	Grand Rapids (AHL)	25	3	3
2013-14	Grand Rapids (AHL)	70	16	20
2014-15	Detroit (NHL)	13	0	2

A third-round draft pick in 2009, Nestrasil spent several years in the depths of the Red Wings organization before exploding onto the NHL radar last spring in Grand Rapids. The Czech Republic native scored 15 points (nine goals and six assists) in his final 15 regular-season appearances for the AHL Griffins then added six points in 10 playoff appearances.

Nonetheless, Nestrasil entered September's NHL training camp with low expectations. Following a five-point performance in six preseason games (the second most on the team), however, Nestrasil made Detroit's roster as a complete dark horse.

He said to team reporter Bill Roose at the time:

"

I’ve done the most I could during camp. If I stay here and play with the Red Wings or if I’m going to go down and play 20 minutes a game in Grand Rapids I’m still at the age where I’ve got to get my game better. I still have to get better every year. Either way is going to fine with me.

"

Nestrasil then played in 10 consecutive contests to begin the 2014-15 campaign and had, by this week, appeared in 13 total games to date.

He had tallied just two points (both assists), though, and the Red Wings were stuck in a roster squeeze with Stephen Weiss returning from injury. They made the (according to many accounts) very difficult decision to waive Nestrasil. Detroit head coach Mike Babcock told Ansar Khan of MLive.com that he wasn't "quite ready for this level."

Twenty-four hours later and Nestrasil is on the verge of joining a new red-and-white hockey team.

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The Hurricanes have long struggled with production from their lower forward lines.

Bottom-six stragglers Manny Malhotra, Drayson Bowman, Radek Dvorak and Brett Sutter were let go during the offseason and replaced with a variety of new players: veterans Brad Malone and Jay McClement, both of whom are still goalless but the latter of which has excelled in faceoffs, and AHL products Chris Terry, Victor Rask and Zach Boychuk, all whom have played relatively well.

Oddly, it's actually been Alexander Semin who has received the most empty-scratch treatment so far this season; new boss Bill Peters has been reportedly "sending a message" to the non-producing star for weeks now.

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Nestrasil, conversely, has an existing relationship with Peters, who coached him in 50 games over the course of two seasons with Grand Rapids. That familiarity likely played a significant role in general manager Ron Francis' decision to submit the claim.

Nestrasil will add another piece of youthful depth to the lineup—he's actually two years younger than both Terry and Boychuk—and likely put Malone's job in serious jeopardy. At 6'3", he instantly becomes the second-tallest forward in Carolina's current depth chart.

Moreover, the 200-pound winger has also performed fantastically in the advanced stats category. Prior to the waiver claim, Nestrasil ranked second on the Red Wings with an absurdly good 62.0 Corsi (shot attempt) percentage, according to Hockey Analysis.

Although undoubtedly helped by his 63.8 offensive zone start percentage, he has proven himself a dominant factor in puck possession this autumn.

On waivers, Nestrasil was reportedly sought after by multiple NHL teams according to TSN's Bob McKenzie, and his departure prompted a strong reaction of support from many Red Wings teammates.

Even though the 'Canes still have a game to play in Los Angeles on Thursday night, Peters promised that Nestrasil would play Saturday against the Avalanche:

Nestrasil must be kept on the NHL roster for at least the next 30 days, per league rules. That should give the potential-laden winger plenty of time to earn a regular job, if he is indeed ready.

If he's not, the 'Canes risked nothing on the venture.

Mark Jones has covered the Carolina Hurricanes for Bleacher Report since 2009. Visit his profile to read more, or follow him on Twitter.