Caps put Chris Bourque on waivers

Corey phones this in from Verizon Center:

Just talked to general manager George McPhee, and he confirmed that Chris Bourque was put on waivers at noon today.

McPhee said the reason is the Caps needed a roster spot / salary cap space in case any player who was put on waivers from another team was someone they wanted to claim.

If the Caps don't see anyone they like more than Bourque and he clears waivers at noon on Wednesday, he will remain with the team and travel to Boston on Thursday.

And if Bourque is claimed by another team, the Caps will of course lose him for nothing.

McPhee said there was a good chance this was going to an issue in a couple of weeks anyway (when Eric Fehr and/or Thomas Fleischmann return from injury).

The Caps certainly don't want to lose Bourque, but as McPhee indicated, this roster squeeze was inevitable.