Why does buffalo do this? You literally state they take a less valuable guy. Toronto is in cap hell

Buffalo needs players. They'd be stupid not to claim an NHL caliber player when he becomes available, because they are lacking in that department badly right now.

Unsure what Toronto being in cap hell has to do with Buffalo making a waiver claim.

You're suggesting Buffalo not claim a solid 4th liner, that is a good to ok 3rd liner that kills penalties, for free because it somehow helps Toronto get out of cap hell? That's poor management at its best... I'm not going to argue that there won't be better options out there on Monday when teams have to trim their rosters, but in this case, it makes sense.

Also it could be any team that claims him. I don't think Buffalo is a must. My hunch is Engvall doesn't clear if he's put on waivers.

no, tampa is in cap hell "we cant decide which 4th liner to use" isnt cap hell

Buffalo has to meet the cap floor too, I doubt they take engvall off waivers. Buffalo doesn;t need 4th liners (or 26 yr old expiring 1.25mil rather average UFAs)

Buffalo probably takes on a couple of cap dumps (along with picks) for nothing and uses their cap space to take say guys like a 3mil Kassian (along with a 2nd).

Buffalo has plenty of bottom 6 junk without engvall (eakin, okposo, bjork, etc...), they dont lack league minimum average players, they lack high end players

right but Engvall is a 13th skater at the NHL level at best. So there is that.

Engvall isn't going to be selected on waivers by anyone. Every other team right now in the league is trying to pass guys they want to keep through waivers.
If BUF wants to grab a guy off waivers, there will be better options.

Lol they don't want players. They have fourth liners and would probably take a chance on other players available on waivers

They are already at the floor.

Of he was that good TO would keep him ... Especially since he is an RFA.

There will be better "NHL caliber" players available in the next few days

ok maybe it isnt buf maybe its arizona, there are a few team who would take him, van took jimmy vesse off waivers last year and he was dog ****.

Nobody said anything about Buffalo having cap issues. Of course they have cap space. They have a serious lack of good players. Engvall isn't great, but he is an able-bodied player, which Buffalo absolutely needs.

yeah and im sure could flip at the deadline for something, im sure some team will need a guy who can play the PK. Honestly he probably wont be claimed off waivers anyways because teams are calling the leafs on him so he will probably be traded.

Buffalo and Toronto are in entirely different situations currently. Buffalo is in rebuild mode and needs all the free depth they can get. Toronto is in win now mode. Engvall would be valuable to a team like Buffalo and is a spare part on Toronto because of their depth.

TBH, I would be happy if he cleared waivers and was sent down. Keep him on stand by in case of injury.