james mirtle: Korolyuk a Shark… again – A hockey journalist’s blog

james mirtle: Korolyuk a Shark… again – A hockey journalist’s blog:

(One question for Sharks fans: Does anyone know the likelihood of Korolyuk playing for the team this season? Wilson seemed to indicate in the team’s press release that Korolyuk would be arriving in North America shortly, but one of the concerns will have to be his vulnerability to the waiver process should he return midseason from Russia.)

I would expect the reasoning is this: how many NHL teams are going to take the risk on Korolyuk’s salary and a roster spot (and the cap space it would eat up) to take him on waivers, when nobody’s seen him play or scouted him (except the Sharks, I bet).

How many teams would have the interest and cap space and be lower than the Sharks in the waiver priority to do this? The sharks seem willing to risk it. My gut says it’s a reasonable bet.

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  • http://robitaille.wordpress.com Daniel Robitaille

    It seems the Sharks have 1.4 mil$ in cap room. So that means Korolyuk cannot sign for more than that. 18 NHL teams have more cap room than the Sharks; 15 of them ahead of the Sharks in the standings today.
    Korolyuk is a relatively well known quantity for all 30 NHL teams. He last played in the NHL for a full season in 2004. He played in the Olympics, was getting nearly a point a game in Russia this season. I’m sure all NHL teams have at least a barebone scouting report about him, and I’m sure most Europeans scouts out there covering the Russia league for NHL teams have at least passing knowledge of his recent performances in the last 2 seasons in Russia. He is not a secret gem.
    So I don’t know if it is an easy ride for him to get back to S.J via the waivers.
    Or what about this strategy: Does a division rival like Dallas has anything to lose in picking up Korolyuk’s rights on waivers ahead of the Sharks, without actually signing him? Doesn’t cost anything them anything, and it stops the Sharks from getting another player that may fit very well in their lineup for the final stretch of the season and the playoffs.
    For the Sharks to have paid a 3rd rounder today for his rights means there is more to the story that meets the eyes. But I don’t see it right now.