Former Detroit Red Wings Player Evgeny Svechnikov Clears Waivers

Even though former Detroit Red Wings first-round draft pick Evgeny Svechnikov cleared waivers Wednesday, he will stay with the San Jose Sharks.

At least that’s the plan for now.

San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng reports  Svechnikov will play tonight in the Sharks’ home game against the Vancouver Canucks.

According to Puckpedia, “”Clearing waivers does not mean the player was sent down. It just means he’s eligible to be sent down. In this case they likely didn’t send him down.”

Quinn confirms that Barabanov, Sturm, Svechnikov are playing for #SJSharks tonight. Harrington in for Cicek

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 7, 2022

Peng said he believes the move is salary cap-related. The 26-year-old winger has three goals and six points in 20 games while averaging 10:48 of ice time this season.

After playing parts of four seasons with the Red Wings, Svechnikov didn’t get a qualifying offer. He signed a one-year deal with  the Winnipeg Jets who also let him become a free agent. The Sharks signed Svechnikov Sept. 6 and waived him Tuesday. He is making $750,000 on a one-year deal. He is the brother of Carolina Hurricanes star Andrei Svechnikov.

No Breakthrough Yet

The Red Wings drafted Svechnikov 19th overall in 2015 and he played a total of 41 games for the club. His best season with Detroit was 2020-21 when he had three goals and five assists for eight points in 20 games. Svechnikov did net 20 goals in his first full American Hockey League season for the Grand Rapids Griffins.

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When GM Steve Yzerman let him become a free agent, some fans complained Svechnikov never was given a fair chance to play with the Red Wings. But he hasn’t had a breakthrough in either Winnipeg or San Jose.

He did play 72 games with the Jets, and even played briefly on a scoring line, but at the end of the season they decided he wasn’t to be part of their long-term plans. He has also been a role player for San Jose.