2021-22 NHL season: Dylan Gambrell placed on waivers by Sharks

Dylan Gambrell's time with the Sharks could be over after San Jose placed the 25-year-old center on waivers on Saturday.

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1446899678084313089

The Sharks need to trim their roster ahead of their 2021-22 NHL season opener at home against the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday, Oct. 16.

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NHL teams have until 9 a.m. PT on Sunday to claim Gambrell. If he goes unclaimed, the Sharks can assign him to the AHL San Jose Barracuda.

As The Athletic's Kevin Kurz and SJ Hockey Now's Sheng Peng report, Gambrell lost the battle for the fourth line center during training camp, with Jasper Weatherby likely claiming the role to start the season.

Not all that surprising. Jasper Weatherby has locked down the fourth line center spot for opening night, in all likelihood. https://t.co/wmSsrI3xLf
— Kevin Kurz (@KKurzNHL) October 9, 2021

Sharks coach Bob Boughner shared details of the conversation with Gambrell and what they want the center to work on.

Boughner said it was tough convo w/ Gambrell -- thinks he'll be back if not claimed: "I like his game. He's a very [trustworthy] player.

"But we also talked about his ability to take more pucks to the net, be a little more offensive at times & not be as safe all the time."
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 9, 2021

The Sharks drafted Gambrell in the second round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, and he appeared in 11 games between the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. The Washington native established himself over the last two seasons.