The San Jose Sharks placed oft-injured defenceman Kyle McLaren on waivers Tuesday.
A veteran of 12 NHL seasons — the last five with San Jose — McLaren battled knee injuries last season and underwent surgery in January. Limited to 61 regular-season games, had three goals and eight assists.
McLaren appeared in two pre-season games with the Sharks, who didn't allow him to skate in intrasquad scrimmages while attempting to move him.
If McLaren isn't claimed by another team, he could be assigned to the Sharks' top minor-league affiliate in Worcester, Mass., where his $2.5-million US salary wouldn't count against the cap.
"Kyle has been a tremendous professional through this," Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said. "We're trying to do what's right for him, so we'll see what the next few days brings."
San Jose also assigned defenceman Mike Moore and right wing Mike Morris to Worcester on Tuesday while finalizing their roster for Thursday's opening game against Anaheim.
McLaren had been facing a diminished role on the revamped San Jose blueline. Veterans Rob Blake, Dan Boyle and Brad Lukowich were imported from other teams, while holdovers Christian Ehrhoff, Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Doug Murray received contract extensions.
In 719 NHL games with San Jose and Boston, McLaren has 207 points (46 goals). He has never registered more than 25 points in a season, and he's never played more than 77 contests.
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