The San Jose Sharks made a notable roster move today, placing veteran defenseman Nick Leddy on waivers-a decision that signals a changing of the guard on the blue line and opens the door for some fresh legs to return to the lineup.
Leddy, a 34-year-old with over 1,000 NHL games under his belt, now faces an uncertain future. If he clears waivers, the Sharks can assign him to their AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda.
If he’s claimed, he’ll get a fresh start elsewhere. Either way, this move creates the roster flexibility San Jose needs ahead of a potential activation of young defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin, who’s been traveling with the team and appears close to returning from injury.
Head coach Ryan Warsofsky confirmed today that it’s Vincent Desharnais-not Mukhamadullin-who’s set to return to the lineup in place of an injured defenseman. Desharnais has been out since late November with an upper-body injury, so his return helps stabilize the blue line in the short term.
But the bigger picture here is about the Sharks making space for Mukhamadullin, a promising young blueliner they’re eager to work back into the fold. With the team already carrying a full 23-man roster, someone had to make way.
Leddy, unfortunately, became the odd man out.
This isn’t just a cap or numbers game-it’s also a reflection of Leddy’s on-ice struggles this season. Once a top-four staple with the St.
Louis Blues, where he logged over 22 minutes a night and was a key penalty killer alongside Colton Parayko, Leddy’s role has diminished significantly in San Jose. He’s averaging just 17:30 of ice time per game this season, with no power play usage and only limited penalty kill minutes.
He’s also been a frequent healthy scratch, a tough pill to swallow for a player with his résumé.
The Sharks are paying Leddy $4 million against the cap this season, a number that reflects his past performance more than his current impact. That gap between salary and production likely makes him a tough sell on the waiver wire. While there may be teams intrigued by what he could still offer in the right situation, taking on that contract midseason is a big ask-especially for a player whose game has clearly taken a step back.
There are still a few paths forward. A trade could materialize, though San Jose only has one salary retention slot left, which limits their flexibility.
Another option: a mutual contract termination. That route would allow Leddy to hit the open market and sign with any team, provided he’s willing to walk away from the remaining portion of his $3 million salary.
It’s a move we’ve seen before-Alexandre Texier and Egor Zamula both went that route earlier this season, with Texier parlaying it into a new two-year deal.
Whether Leddy is claimed, reassigned, traded, or chooses to terminate his deal, the next few days will be telling. He’s still a name to watch, especially for teams looking to shore up their defensive depth heading into the stretch run-Buffalo, for instance, could be a fit.
But for now, the Sharks are clearly moving in a different direction, prioritizing youth and flexibility as they continue to reshape their roster. For Leddy, the next chapter is still unwritten-but it’s coming fast.