The San Jose Sharks have lost a young blue-liner to the waiver wire, as defenseman Vincent Iorio was claimed by the New York Rangers on Saturday. It’s a tough break for the 23-year-old, who had only recently started to settle into his game after a rocky start to the season.
Iorio’s time in San Jose was brief but eventful. After being picked up off waivers from the Washington Capitals earlier this season, he found himself in a crowded defensive group that, at one point, ballooned to nine blueliners thanks to a revolving door of injuries.
That depth allowed the Sharks to carry extra defensemen for a while, but as the roster got healthier-and the forward group deeper-the team was forced to make a choice. That choice ended up being Iorio.
The decision came as San Jose activated Shakir Mukhamadullin from injured reserve, and with no more room to stash extra defensemen, Iorio became the odd man out. It’s a tough outcome, especially considering his recent progress.
After spending time as a healthy scratch and going on a conditioning stint in the AHL, Iorio had started to find his rhythm. His play had been trending in the right direction, but in the numbers game of NHL roster management, upward momentum doesn’t always guarantee a spot.
In 21 games with the Sharks, Iorio notched three points. He also added six points in seven AHL games-solid production that hinted at his offensive upside.
But with the blue line nearing full health, Iorio had clearly fallen into the eighth defenseman slot, a tough place to earn regular ice time. And with the Sharks eyeing internal reinforcements, the writing was on the wall.
One of those reinforcements is Eric Pohlkamp, a 21-year-old defenseman who’s having a standout season at the University of Denver. With 16 goals and 28 points in 29 games, Pohlkamp is turning heads and seems poised to make the jump to the pros once his college season wraps. Shedding Iorio’s contract gives San Jose the flexibility to potentially sign Pohlkamp as early as this season-possibly even burning the first year of his entry-level deal to entice him to leave school early.
It’s an unfortunate end to Iorio’s stint in teal. He never got a true extended look, and while his game was rounding into form, opportunity just didn’t align with timing. Meanwhile, veteran defenseman John Klingberg, who’s struggled to find his footing this season, remains on the roster-for now.
And the roster shuffling might not be over. With Kiefer Sherwood expected to make his Sharks debut soon, San Jose will need to clear another spot.
Jeff Skinner, who’s been a frequent healthy scratch, appears to be the most likely candidate to hit waivers. Pavol Regenda is another name to watch, though his recent uptick in play might buy him a little more time.
The Sharks are clearly in transition, balancing development, roster flexibility, and cap considerations as they retool. Moves like this one-letting go of a promising young defenseman-aren’t easy, but they’re part of the long game San Jose is playing.