The Sharks have waived forward Mike Brown, a team source confirmed on Sunday morning after multiple reports.
Brown, 30, has three points (1g, 2a) and 63 penalty minutes in 44 games with the Sharks this season. The fourth liner has played just twice in the Sharks’ last 13 games. He is in the second of a two-year contract carrying a $1.2 million salary cap hit.
The move opens up a roster spot, as well as a bit of flexibility money-wise with just one day to go until the NHL's noon trade deadline on Monday.
On Feb. 6, Sharks coach Pete DeBoer hinted that agitating yet light-scoring Brown’s playing time might be hard to come by down the stretch.
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“It’s a luxury to have one of those guys in the lineup,” DeBoer said. “At the same time, I don’t see us getting pushed out of games or pushed around. I don’t think it’s an issue. It’s the time of year now where points are too valuable, you cant afford to sit in a penalty box unless the game swings one way or another by a few goals. These are all one-goal games. I think it becomes less and less a piece the further into the season you get.”
Brown played sparingly after taking a third period roughing penalty in a game on Jan. 24 against the Kings that led to a key goal-against in a 3-2 overtime loss.
“We can’t take that penalty in the third period,” DeBoer said after the game.
