The San Jose Sharks have placed veteran defenseman Nick Leddy on waivers, potentially creating a roster spot for some soon-to-be healthy players. With defensemen Vincent Desharnais and Shakir Mukhamadullin nearing their return from upper-body injuries, the Sharks are facing a roster crunch.
Leddy, 34, has played sparingly this season, logging just 19 of 47 games due to an early-season injury and numerous healthy scratches. He had an assist in his last game against the Detroit Red Wings, but his inconsistent play has limited his ice time. Leddy is in the final year of a four-year contract worth $16 million.
By placing Leddy on waivers, the Sharks can potentially clear space for Desharnais and Mukhamadullin, who both practiced with the team Sunday in South Florida. Desharnais could be in line to play against the Florida Panthers on Monday, while Mukhamadullin's return will provide much-needed depth on defense.
The move also means that Pavol Regenda, another player currently on the roster, would need waivers if he was to be sent back to the AHL. However, his performance this season – seven goals and an assist in 10 games – makes it uncertain whether he'd clear.
Leddy, 34, has played sparingly this season, logging just 19 of 47 games due to an early-season injury and numerous healthy scratches. He had an assist in his last game against the Detroit Red Wings, but his inconsistent play has limited his ice time. Leddy is in the final year of a four-year contract worth $16 million.
By placing Leddy on waivers, the Sharks can potentially clear space for Desharnais and Mukhamadullin, who both practiced with the team Sunday in South Florida. Desharnais could be in line to play against the Florida Panthers on Monday, while Mukhamadullin's return will provide much-needed depth on defense.
The move also means that Pavol Regenda, another player currently on the roster, would need waivers if he was to be sent back to the AHL. However, his performance this season – seven goals and an assist in 10 games – makes it uncertain whether he'd clear.
gotta feel bad for Nick Leddy, he's been getting hurt nonstop this season & it's hard to keep a guy on the bench when they're not even sure if they can stay healthy... 
his numbers aren't great this year but I'm sure he'll bounce back from this 
Sharks have some tough decisions ahead with Desharnais & Mukhamadullin coming back, hope they figure it out 
... I mean, what's the point of having a $16 million contract if you're just gonna play 19 games? It's like they paid him to sit on the bench. The Sharks are playing it safe by putting him on waivers, but it's still gonna be awkward when Desharnais and Mukhamadullin come back and have to step up their game. I'm not sure about Pavol Regenda either... if he gets sent back down, it'll just show that the team's depth isn't as solid as they claim 
. And what about Nick Leddy's playing time? He had an assist in his last game, but then he gets waived? What's the point of having a veteran player if you're just gonna sit him on the bench all season? 
. This is just another example of how teams are so focused on the short-term that they forget about player development and chemistry 
.
With Leddy on waivers, they might be able to get some of their injured defensemen back and that would be huge for them 
Desharnais coming back could give them a boost, especially against the Panthers. And Mukhamadullin’s return is super important because he provides that extra depth on D 
As for Regenda, I think the Sharks are being smart by not sending him down to the AHL just yet – seven goals in 10 games is no joke! 
They might try to keep him up and see how it all plays out.
... What do you guys think is more concerning - that Desharnais and Mukhamadullin are finally getting healthy or that they're gonna have to clear space for Pavol Regenda? 
. It seems like they're trying to make room for Desharnais & Mukhamadullin to get back on ice 
. The thing is, Leddy's in his last year of a big contract, so you wonder if it's worth sacrificing him just to fit out some injured guys 
... maybe the team will try to buyout him this summer? 
. I'd love to see how they navigate this, as it will be interesting to observe how they balance their need for depth with the limitations imposed by Leddy's salary on the books 
.
... Desharnais and Mukhamadullin are both returning healthy, so let them play some D and see how it goes 
... The waiver move feels like a no-brainer, but sometimes these moves backfire and players end up getting hurt or whatever 
i get it, desharnais & mukhamadullin are coming back but can't they just play him 15 mins a game already?! 
pavol regenda's gotta be thinking the same thing, he's got some solid numbers this season 
️. And I'm guessing Pavol Regenda might get sent down if he doesn't clear waivers himself 
. Nick Leddy's been struggling to get ice time, only playing 19 of 47 games this season... that's like, what, 40% of his potential 
That's gotta be tough for the dude.
. Both have been injured for extended periods, but they've both shown promising signs when healthy. It'll be interesting to see how they integrate back into the lineup.
. Will Pavol Regenda need waivers if he gets sent back down? That's a tough call 
. Desharnais and Mukhamadullin are gonna bring that much-needed depth on D, and it'll be awesome to see them back on the ice 
Leddy's time on the team is coming to an end, kinda like how we thought that was gonna be a long time ago 
. It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out, especially when Desharnais returns on Monday 