Roster shake-ups are coming and with free agency beginning on Wednesday morning, the San Jose Sharks will need to get creative with cap space. At yesterday’s deadline, general manager Mike Grier did not issue qualifying offers to eight restricted free agents. Earlier today, the club placed forward Rudolfs Balcers on waivers for the purpose of a contract buyout ahead of free agency.
Balcers, 25, had one year remaining on his contract, with a $1.55 million cap hit. Per CapFriendly, the buyout will cost the Sharks $8,334 in 2022-23 and $308,334 in 2023-24. Even against a flat cap, it’s a marginal cost.