Photo credit: Jan 16, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Red Wings defenseman Albert Johansson (20) is defended by San Jose Sharks defensemen Sam Dickinson (6) and Nick Leddy (4) as he takes a shot on goaltender Yaroslav Askarov (30) during the second period at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images
Nick Leddy waivers talk has Sharks fans watching the wire, and that $4M cap hit suddenly feels like a turning point.
A report Sunday said the San Jose Sharks are placing defenseman Nick Leddy on waivers, with the note that he's in the final year of a $4 million AAV deal.
One wrinkle, it hasn't shown up everywhere yet.
PuckPedia's live «today's waiver wire» page showed no players currently on waivers at the time it was checked, so treat this as a reported move until the official list updates.
Nick Leddy waivers shift the San Jose Sharks plan
As a Sharks fan, seeing a veteran hit waivers midseason always feels like the rebuild clock just ticked louder.
The usage trend makes the report believable.
CBS Sports noted Leddy was scratched for 10 of the Sharks' previous 15 games, and his role has been trending down since late October.
He's also not producing enough to make the decision painful.
CBS and PuckPedia both list him with four assists in 19 games.
Contract-wise, the picture is clear.
Spotrac and PuckPedia both have Leddy carrying a $4,000,000 cap hit in 2025-26, the final season of his four-year, $16 million deal, and he's set to be a UFA after this season.
For San Jose, waivers can be a clean lever even when it's awkward.
If he clears, the Sharks can send him down for depth, create roster breathing room, and keep minutes available for younger blue-liners without forcing a trade.
Now the wait is for confirmation and the next domino.
If the wire updates and he's officially there, the outcome will tell us whether another team still values the experience, or if this becomes a quiet depth reset in San Jose.
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| POLL | ||
JANVIER 18|97 ANSWERS 1,061-game veteran defenseman hits waivers in San Jose If Nick Leddy officially hits waivers, what should the San Jose Sharks hope happens? | ||
| Claimed | 54 | 55.7 % |
| Clears | 43 | 44.3 % |
| List of polls | ||