San Jose Sharks Lose Vincent Iorio to Waivers, Activate Shakir Mukhamadullin
The San Jose Sharks’ blue line just got a little thinner - and not because of injuries this time.
On Friday, the team placed 23-year-old defenseman Vincent Iorio on waivers, and by Saturday, he was scooped up by the New York Rangers. That’s a tough loss for a Sharks squad that’s been quietly building depth on the back end. Iorio might still be finding his footing in the NHL, but he brings enough tools to turn heads - especially for a Rangers team looking for upside wherever they can find it.
At 6-foot-4, Iorio is a right-shot defenseman with smooth skating and a knack for moving the puck in transition. He logged over 16 minutes per night in 21 games with the Sharks this season, picking up three assists along the way.
That stat line doesn’t jump off the page, but it only tells part of the story. Iorio’s game is built on potential - the kind of potential that teams are willing to bet on, even if it means claiming him off waivers midseason.
The Sharks originally picked him up off waivers themselves back in October, after the Washington Capitals - who drafted him in the second round in 2021 - let him go. San Jose gave him a chance to showcase his skill set, and while there were growing pains defensively (as expected for a young blueliner), he flashed enough promise to draw interest around the league.
Beyond the on-ice impact, Iorio also brought energy to the Sharks’ locker room. By all accounts, he was a positive presence - a guy teammates enjoyed being around. That’s not nothing, especially on a young team still finding its identity.
Iorio also has ties to one of the Sharks’ brightest young stars. Growing up in Vancouver, he’s known Macklin Celebrini and his family for years. That kind of familiarity can help build chemistry in a developing core, so his departure stings a little more in that context.
But San Jose isn’t standing pat. In a corresponding move, the team activated defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin off injured reserve. The former first-round pick is another intriguing young piece on the Sharks’ blue line, and now he’ll have a chance to step into a bigger role with Iorio gone.
Mukhamadullin brings his own set of tools - size, reach, and a developing offensive game - and the Sharks will be watching closely to see how he handles the opportunity. For a team focused on the long-term rebuild, it’s another step in the process: evaluating talent, giving young players a shot, and seeing who rises.
Losing Iorio isn’t ideal, especially for nothing in return. But it’s also a sign of where the Sharks are right now - deep enough to have tough decisions, and committed enough to development that they’re willing to keep the carousel moving.
This isn’t the last we’ll hear from Vincent Iorio. And in San Jose, the next man up is already on the ice.