Why the Sharks are terminating the contract of the Barracuda’s leading scorer

San Jose Sharks place forward Nathan Todd on unconditional waivers for purpose of contract termination

The San Jose Sharks on Tuesday placed forward Nathan Todd on unconditional waivers for the purpose of contract termination.

The decision to terminate the deal was mutual, a source said, as Todd indicated he would like to play in Europe next season. Todd, 28, spent all of this past season with the Sharks’ AHL affiliate, the Barracuda, and had a team-high 55 points in 69 games.

Todd was about to enter the second year of a two-year, two-way contract he signed with the Sharks on July 3, 2023. Todd’s contract, per CapFriendly, called for him to make $200,000 at the AHL level next season and $775,000 if he was in the NHL.

This 2023-2024 season was Todd’s most productive since he turned pro in 2016, but he was not recalled by the Sharks and has still not played an NHL game. In his career, Todd has 125 points in 196 career AHL games and 110 points in 143 ECHL games.

Todd is the second player in five months to have his contract terminated by the Sharks by mutual agreement. Defenseman Leon Gawanke, wanting to return to his home country of Germany, left San Jose in February and finished the season with Adler Mannheim of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.

For next season, the Sharks, including non-roster players, now have 19 forwards, 13 defensemen, and four goalies under contract. They also have nine restricted free agents, a list headed by forwards Luke Kunin and Thomas Bordeleau and defenseman Calen Addison.