Sharks place three on waivers, including Ethan Cardwell, as camp roster is slashed

SAN JOSE – The Sharks placed three players – including 2021 draft pick Ethan Cardwell – on waivers Wednesday as they cut their training camp roster to a more manageable number ahead of their season opener next week.

Along with assigning several players to the Barracuda of the AHL, the Sharks also placed defensemen Libor Hajek and forward Tye Felhaber on waivers. If Cardwell, Felhaber and Hajek go unclaimed by another NHL team before Thursday at 11 a.m. (PST), the three will be assigned to the AHL.

Players on NHL contracts assigned to the Barracuda were forwards Andre Gasseau, Carson Wetsch and defensemen Leo Sahlin-Wallenius and Phillip Sinn, all of whom are waivers-exempt.

Players sent down Wednesday on minor league contracts were forwards Samuel Huo, Donovan Houle and Anthony Vincent; defensemen Roland McKeown and Mack Oliphant; and goalie Matt Davis.

More cuts are coming soon. The Sharks now have , and they play preseason games at home against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday and the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday. Their regular season opener is Oct. 1 at home against the Florida Panthers.

As of Wednesday, the Sharks are carrying 23 forwards, 10 defensemen, and three goalies. Other players who would require waivers to be sent down include forwards Patrick Giles, Jimmy Huntington, Alex Barre-Boulet, and Brett Leason, defenseman Nolan Allan, and goalie Eric Comrie

Cardwell has played 13 games for the Sharks over the past two seasons, collecting two points and averaging 11:45 in ice time.

Asked why Cardwell was waived now, Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said the winger had a slower start to camp than some other roster hopefuls like veteran forwards Jimmy Huntington and Brett Leason, who could get another preseason game on Thursday. Consistency woth Cardwell in how he needs to play is also an issue.

“We kind of know who (Cardwell) is as a player, and we were going down to one group today to get some more accomplished,” Warsofsky said. “It’s hard to do six lines of work with one group, and guys earned (more time in camp). Jimmy Huntington’s had a really good camp. He’s gotten better each day. He’s been effective in the games. Leason’s come in, he’s big, he’s got experience on the wing, can take face-offs. Want to get another look at him.

“I don’t think we’re going to lose sight of Ethan Cardwell. We like him. He’s a good player. We’ve seen him come up and give us a jolt. He’s got some things to continue to work on.”

Cardwell always knew going on waivers would be a possibility, especially since he missed the last four months of last season with a torn labrum in his shoulder that required surgery.

“Everybody’s looking because there’s obviously 31 other teams in the league,” Cardwell said over the weekend about potentially being placed on waivers. “I want to be a Shark, and I want to be a Shark for as long as I can, and I want to make this team. So I don’t want (to be placed on waivers), but obviously there is a possibility that that happens. So, I just put my best foot forward every day and kind of let the chips fall where they may.”

Although he was always a long shot to make the Sharks’ roster out of camp considering the team’s forward depth, Cardwell thought he could serve a role with the big club as a depth forward. He started camp on a line with fellow winger Barclay Goodrow and center Zack Ostapchuk.

Other forwards projected in depth roles for the Sharks are Ty Dellandrea and Adam Gaudette.

“That’s kind of the role I’ve got to get in as,” Cardwell said. “I’ve got to work my way onto that fourth line and be a key contributor on this team, and I think I can help this team win. So to be given that opportunity to kind of showcase what I can do in scrimmages and in drills, it’s a good opportunity. But it’s just the start. I’ve got to keep building throughout this whole camp.”