After having picked up Bobby Butler yesterday from Carolina, today the Predators have claimed winger Zach Boychuk, who was put on waivers by Pittsburgh yesterday. Boychuk has already passed through this situation previously this season, as the Penguins grabbed him from Carolina back on January 31st.

Along with Brandon Yip being placed on Injured Reserve, this leaves Nashville with 22 players on the Active Roster, and two on IR (Yip & Hal Gill).

Zach Boychuk #17 / Left Wing / Pittsburgh Penguins Height: 5-10 Weight: 185 Born: Oct 04, 1989

GP G A P +/- PIM PPG SHG GWG

SOG PCT 2012 - Zach Boychuk 8 0 0 0 -2 2 0 0 0 6 0.0

This morning, I linked to our comrades in New York, who wondered if the Rangers might snap him up:

Boychuk did lead the AHL in scoring a couple of years ago, but has only posted 18 points in 80 career NHL games. He's a bigger body, can protect the puck and has good vision, but those skills (to this point) have never translated to the upper level. Is the risk worth the reward? In my mind, yes, simply because there's nothing but monetary risk in claiming Boychuk. If he doesn't work out in New York the Rangers can expose him to waivers and allow another NHL team to give him another shot.

What are your thoughts, Predators fans? Is this a kid with some untapped potential, or is Poile digging furiously in the NHL's bargain bin hoping to get lucky?

Here's the team's press release: