Rudolfs Balcers Claimed by San Jose Sharks

Photo by Steven Kingsman/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesRudolfs Balcers is returning to the team that drafted him in 2015.

As first reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the 23 year-old forward was claimed by the San Jose Sharks, after being placed on waivers by the Ottawa Senators yesterday. The Sharks now inherit Balcers’ one-year, $735K deal. He remains waiver-eligible, and will be a restricted free agent at the season’s conclusion.

A native of Liepaja, Latvia, Balcers arrived in Ottawa by way of the Erik Karlsson trade - along with Josh Norris, Chris Tierney, Dylan DeMelo, and eventually Tim Stuetzle - in September of 2018. He has played all 51 of his NHL games with Ottawa over the…