The Sharks waived third-string goaltender Antoine Bibeau on Monday, but who they didn’t let go was just as noticeable.
Defensemen Tim Heed and Radim Simek weren't waived Monday, the last day NHL teams could waive players and have them clear waivers ahead of Tuesday’s opening-day roster deadline. That means, barring any trades, San Jose likely will carry eight defensemen on its 23-man roster to start the season.
The team appeared to be prepared for the possibility. General manager Doug Wilson told reporters on the second day of training camp that the Sharks “have the possibility to do that,” and coach Peter DeBoer spoke highly of the team’s depth on the blue line.
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“We’re blessed with, in my mind, seven, eight deep of defensemen that are NHL defensemen, and that’s a great problem to have,” DeBoer said on Sept. 21.
Heed and Simek would have needed to clear waivers in order to join the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda, and the Sharks would have risked losing either defenseman for free. Forwards Rourke Chartier, Dylan Gambrell and Lukas Radil -- who didn't play in the preseason finale -- wouldn't require waivers to be sent down.
Those three, then, appear to be competing for the Sharks' final forward spot. Chartier and Gambrell are centers, and would give DeBoer an option down the middle for the fourth line aside from Barclay Goodrow. Radil, a 28-year-old winger, is listed at 6-foot-4, 204 pounds, and give the Sharks more size in their bottom six.
Assuming San Jose hangs on to Heed and Simek, the team still would be salary-cap compliant by Tuesday’s 2 p.m. PT deadline no matter which forward makes the team. The Sharks would have the most cap space if Chartier made the team ($1,204,166, per Cap Friendly), and the least if Gambrell did ($951,666). That could be an important consideration for Wilson, especially as he tries to maximize flexibility ahead of February’s trade deadline.
San Jose Sharks
Of course, there’s also the possibility San Jose doesn’t carry an extra forward, at least right away. 23 is the roster limit, and the Sharks might not need a 13th player up front until their five-game road trip begins Friday in Los Angeles.
But after Heed and Simek weren't waived Monday, that decision seems to be the final one of training camp.