It is the problem every general manager prays for in September and dreads in January: a fully healthy roster.
For Mike Grier and the San Jose Sharks, the hypothetical is becoming a reality at the most chaotic time possible. With the trade deadline looming and the NHL’s Olympic break set to pause the season from Feb. 4-26, the Sharks are facing a roster crunch that is forcing management to make decisions based less on merit and more on the cold, hard calculus of asset management.
The returning cavalry is substantial. Defenseman Vincent Desharnais is already back, instantly stabilizing a penalty kill that has gone perfect since his return. Rookie standout Will Smith is back in the mix. But the real pressure comes from the imminent activation of Shakir Mukhamadullin, Philipp Kurashev, and the recently acquired Kiefer Sherwood.
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To activate three players, you have to move three. And in a salary cap world, that often means losing good soldiers or risking the future development of your brightest stars.
The Casualty of Flexibility
Grier didn’t wait for the dam to burst before making his first moves. The waiving of veteran Nick Leddy was a statement — a recognition that pedigree cannot outweigh performance. Leddy’s minus-9 rating through 19 games made him expendable, clearing the runway for Desharnais to reunite with rookie Sam Dickinson.
However, the reassignment of Igor Chernyshov to the Barracuda stings a bit more for the faithful in the Tank.
Chernyshov has been undeniably good. With 11 points in 15 games and palpable chemistry with Macklin Celebrini, the 20-year-old earned his NHL keep. His demotion wasn’t a hockey decision; it was a business one. Unlike the veterans cluttering the bottom six, Chernyshov is waiver-exempt. He is the only valve Grier could turn to release pressure without losing an asset for nothing.
There is a silver lining here, one that Grier was quick to point out. By sending Chernyshov down, the Sharks ensure he keeps playing through February. While the NHL freezes for the Olympics, the American Hockey League (AHL) schedule grinds on. For a developing player, 20 minutes a night in the AHL is infinitely more valuable than sitting in a press box or idle during an international break.
The Veteran Bubble and the Healthy Scratch
With the “easy” move of demoting Chernyshov out of the way, the math gets harder. The Sharks are carrying 14 forwards, and the press box attendees list is telling.
Jeff Skinner finds himself in precarious territory. The veteran winger has been a healthy scratch recently, a clear signal that his output no longer justifies his roster spot over younger, hungrier options. The league knows the situation; if a trade partner exists, Grier will find them. If not, Skinner is a prime candidate for waivers.
He isn’t alone on the bubble. Adam Gaudette and Ryan Reaves have also rotated through scratch duty. Gaudette offers depth scoring and term, while Reaves brings the deterrent factor that old-school hockey men still value. But when you need to clear three spots for impact players like Kurashev and Mukhamadullin, “utility” and “toughness” become luxuries you might not be able to afford. Pavol Regenda has played well enough to stay, but his waiver eligibility makes him a risky demotion. Grier risks losing a useful depth piece to a claim if he tries to sneak him through.
The Sherwood Standoff
Perhaps the most volatile variable in this equation is Sherwood.
Since arriving, Sherwood has been exactly what the Sharks needed — a physical agitator who drags his teammates into the fight. His bond with Desharnais and the nasty edge he brings are elements championship teams covet. But the business side is getting ugly.
Reports indicate that contract extension talks have hit a wall. Sherwood, betting on himself, reportedly turned down a $4 million annual offer from Vancouver previously and is now rumored to be hunting a five-year deal in the neighborhood of $5.5 million per season.
This puts Grier in a bind. Does he pay a premium for grit, or does he view Sherwood as a rental? If the gap in negotiations is truly unbridgeable, Sherwood goes from a core piece to “deadline bait” overnight. Recouping a second-round pick at the deadline is better than watching him walk into free agency for nothing in July. It’s a game of chicken, and the clock is ticking.
Congestion on the Blue Line
The defensive picture is equally crowded. The Sharks are currently carrying seven active defensemen, with Mukhamadullin waiting in the wings. Vinny Iorio appears to be the odd man out, a likely candidate for waivers if a trade doesn’t materialize elsewhere.
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However, the real solution might be a larger splash. Pending unrestricted free agents like Mario Ferraro or Timothy Liljegren are reportedly being shopped. Moving a defender of that caliber does two things: it clears the necessary roster spot for Mukhamadullin, and it brings back future assets to keep the rebuild churning.
The Bottom Line
The next week will define the Sharks’ season and likely the next few years of their build. The era of “easy” roster moves is over. Grier has played his waiver-exempt cards. Now, he has to cut into the bone.
Whether it’s waiving a recognized name like Skinner or pulling the trigger on a Sherwood trade, the roster that comes out of the Olympic break will look different than the one entering it. It is a harsh reality, but in the NHL, availability is the ultimate ability — until everyone is available, and you simply run out of chairs.
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