San Jose Sharks waive Ryan Dzingel before NHL trade deadline

SAN JOSE – Looking to create some roster flexibility ahead of the March 21 trade deadline, the Sharks on Friday waived forward Ryan Dzingel, who had been a healthy scratch the last two games.

If Dzingel clears waivers, he’ll be assigned to the Barracuda of the AHL on Saturday. Claimed by the Sharks last month after the Toronto Maple Leafs put him on waivers, Dzingel had one goal in six games for San Jose.

Coach Bob Boughner said the Sharks are looking at potentially recalling a player from the Barracuda, and forward John Leonard would appear to be a strong possibility. Leonard was named the AHL’s Player of the Week on Monday after he had five goals and two assists in three games from March 2-6.

Leonard was cut during training camp in October and aside from a two-week stint in the NHL in the fall when the Sharks were experiencing widespread COVID issues, has been with the Barracuda all season.

Leonard had 13 points in 43 games with the Sharks last season and entered Friday with 16 goals and 29 points in 43 AHL games this year.

“That’s really the goal of sending those guys down there is to let them be the player that they’re going to hopefully end up being up here and dominate that position, and we’re starting to see a little of that,” Boughner said.

The Sharks can reassign Leonard or another waivers-exempt player before the trade deadline to create a roster spot and get back to 22 players.

“So there’s no rush. We’ve still got quite a few games to go (before the trade deadline),” Boughner said, “but at some point, you’d like to reward the guys that have had success down there and done their job.”

HEALTHY HILL: Goalie Adin Hill, out of the lineup for the last seven weeks with a lower-body injury, will likely start Saturday when the Sharks host the Los Angeles Kings, Boughner said.

Hill, 25, was first injured in the Sharks’ Jan. 22 game at home against Tampa Bay, as he relieved James Reimer midway through the first period of what became a 7-1 Lightning win. Hill then re-aggravated the injury in the Sharks’ ensuing practice and has not played since.

Hill has had good and bad days health-wise in recent weeks as his recovery has been slower than he expected. Son with Reimer also injured, the Sharks turned to Alex Stalock and Zach Sawchenko in the last week, with Sawchenko earning his first career NHL win in San Jose’s 4-3 victory over Los Angeles on Thursday.

Hill was a full participant in Friday’s practice and Boughner said if he feels good Saturday morning, will start against the Kings as the Sharks look to earn consecutive wins for the first time since the second week of January.

Hill has a 9-11-1 record this season with a .901 save percentage and 2.78 goals-against average.

REIMER ON ICE: Reimer was on the ice before the start of Sharks’ practice for about an hour, working with goalie coach Evgeni Nabokov. Reimer has missed the last three games with a lower-body injury and hasn’t played since March 1, but could be available next week if he continues to progress.