The Daily: Sharks Wave Ex-Red Wings Player; Detroit Goalie Update

The San Jose Sharks have waived former Detroit Red Wings player Givani Smith. If no other NHL team claims him, he will be assigned to the San Jose Barracuda.

Smith is in the last season of a contract paying him an average of $800,000 per season. Because Smith is on a one-way deal, he will receive his NHL salary even if he is playing for San Jose’s AHL affiliate.

“In his two seasons with the San Jose Sharks,” San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng wrote, “the 6-foot-2 winger was not able to establish himself as a regular player. He was a frequent healthy scratch, dressing for six pointless games this season, and 36 contests last year, scoring one goal and three assists.”

Peng surmised that the Sharks made the roster move to accommodate Barclay Goodrow coming the injury list.

Waivers today:
Joseph Anderson (CHI)
Caleb Jones (LA)
Givani Smith (SJ)

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) December 8, 2024

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

Bob Duff writes that it is time for the Red Wings to use goalie prospect Sebastian Cossa in an NHL game.

The Detroit organization now boasts a stable of young goalies in the system, including Cossa, Trey Augustine and Carter Gylander.

The Colorado Avalanche showed the Red Wings how to close it a game in their Saturday meeting. They shut out the New Jersey Devils the next day.

Red Wings Extra

The Red Wings haven’t yet named a starting goalie for tonight’s road game against the Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network). Coach Derek Lalonde will name his choice at the morning skate. Ville Husso has stopped 85 of 92 (.923) shots for Detroit over the past three games. When asked over the weekend about how Husso has played, Lalonde said:  “He’s excellent. Again, those kind of numbers have been good. He’s given us quality saves, quality times… Gives us an opportunity in the end.

Hockey Now Network

Colorado: The Avalanche’s goaltending has been strong in their last two wins, including a 4-0 win against New Jersey.

Florida: Why it’s a big deal that Paul Maurice is the winningest coach in the history of the Florida Panthers.

New Jersey: James Nichols has a paywall story about Team USA coach Mike Sullivan’s reaction to Jack Hughes wanting to play with Auston Matthews. New Jersey Devils.

Pittsburgh: Dave Molinari writes a paywall story about why the Penguins still believe they can have success this season. Pittsburgh Penguins.